Trump vows to sue over explosive biopic, The Apprentice, that premiered at Cannes
- ‘The Apprentice’ is about a younger Donald Trump in his ascendancy as a New York real estate mogul
- Movie appears to have infuriated Trump’s team, which threatened a lawsuit for ‘blatantly false assertions’
Donald Trump’s team has vowed to sue over a biopic about his early years that includes rape, erectile dysfunction and ruthless betrayal, but the makers said on Tuesday the film allowed viewers to feel “sympathy” with the ex-president.
The Apprentice traces Trump’s origin story as an ambitious young property developer in 1970s and 1980s New York.
Sebastian Stan, best known from Marvel superhero films, stars as Trump, while Jeremy Strong of Succession fame plays his ruthless mentor and lawyer Roy Cohn – and both received glowing reviews from Cannes critics.
The film offers a nuanced account of Trump, depicted as an ambitious but naive social climber in the first half, before his decency is eroded as he learns the dark arts of deal making and power.
“Donald’s team should wait to watch the movie before they start suing us,” director Ali Abbasi told reporters in Cannes.
“I don’t necessary think this is a movie that he would dislike … I think he would be surprised,” Abbasi said.
