Trump Movie ‘The Apprentice’ Still Poised For Pre-Election Release.

The controversial film “The Apprentice,” which Donald Trump reportedly doesn’t want audiences to see, is still on track for a pre-election U.S. release. The movie, which caused a stir at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, is slated for release by Briarcliff on October 11 according to Hollywood Reporter. However, its release has faced uncertainty due to a dispute with financier Kinematics, backed by Trump supporter Dan Snyder, who was unhappy with the film’s portrayal of the former President. Efforts are underway to resolve the conflict, and a resolution is expected soon.

Internationally, the film is scheduled to roll out from mid-October, with dates already confirmed in key markets. Reports indicate that Kinematics is being bought out of the project, with its $5 million investment being returned along with a $2 million premium.

THE APPRENTICE STARS SEBASTIAN STAN

Directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabe Sherman, “The Apprentice” stars Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, Jeremy Strong as his ruthless mentor Roy Cohn, Martin Donovan as Fred Trump Sr., and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump. The film explores Trump’s early rise to power through a Faustian relationship with Cohn, an influential lawyer and political fixer.

Though initially expected to secure a U.S. distribution deal soon after its Cannes premiere, the film’s path has been complicated by legal threats from Trump’s team—particularly due to a controversial scene depicting Trump’s character raping his former wife, Ivana—and disputes involving financier Snyder. Briarcliff is finalizing the deal, with buzz around the film suggesting it may play at the Telluride Film Festival ahead of its release.

UPCOMING ELECTION

The film’s cast received significant praise at Cannes, fueling awards season speculation. With the upcoming election adding to the film’s context, its release campaign is expected to be closely watched, especially after the Democrats’ switch from Joe Biden to Kamala Harris as their presidential candidate.

The film is produced by Daniel Bekerman, Jacob Jarek, Ruth Treacy, Julianne Forde, Ali Abbasi, and Louis Tisné, with a lineup of executive producers including Amy Baer, Mark H. Rapaport, Emanuel Nunez, Grant S. Johnson, and others. “The Apprentice” is poised to spark conversation and controversy as it hits theaters ahead of the election.