Journalist and author Gabriel Sherman, who penned the script for the upcoming Donald Trump biopic “The Apprentice,” has shed light on his reasoning behind including one of its most contentious scenes. The film, directed by Iranian filmmaker Ali Abbasi, is labelled as an “origin story” and features Sebastian Stan portraying a young Trump, with Jeremy Strong playing his mentor Roy Cohn.
Premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in May, the Eighties-set movie showcases Trump engaging in drug use, cosmetic procedures, and notably, a scene depicting him raping his first wife Ivana, whom he was married to from 1977 to 1990. Sherman explained his decision, stating, “I think it was incredibly important to put [that scene] in the film from a characterological perspective because this movie is really trying to show the roots of where Donald Trump today came from.”
Trump has faced credible sexual assault accusations from multiple women, including Ivana, who had accused him of sexual assault during their divorce proceedings in 1989 but later retracted the allegations in 2015, describing them as “totally without merit”. Sherman emphasised, “Speaking as a writer, not a journalist, what felt the most emotionally true to me was the statement she made in real time under oath.”
Director Abbasi chimed in on the controversial scene, noting that the attention it has garnered is due to the usual censorship such themes face. He expressed his focus on depicting Trump in his entirety, highlighting the character’s evolution towards egocentrism and a lack of empathy.
Despite receiving positive reviews post-premiere, “The Apprentice” encountered difficulties securing a US distribution or streaming deal, reportedly due to concerns about involvement should Trump win reelection. Subsequently, Tom Ortenberg’s Briarcliff Entertainment acquired the film in late August, with a theatrical release scheduled for October 11.
The decision to include the contentious rape scene in the biopic has spurred discussions on the depiction of powerful figures in cinema and the complexities of character portrayal. Sherman and Abbasi’s insights shed light on the creative choices made in bringing Trump’s backstory to the silver screen, sparking debate and anticipation among audiences.