Summary
The Apprenticedirector Ali Abbasi calls out “power people” who he suggests are trying to prevent his film’s release. The movie, starring Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, and Maria Bakalova, functions as a biopicfocusing on the early career of Donald Trump as a real estate mogul in the 70s and 80s, in the years before his rise to the presidency.The Apprenticehas received strong reviewsand was released at Cannes on May 20, but so far, it has not been given a domestic release date in the United States.
In an explosive tweet on X,Abbasireplied to a post fromThe Nation, which bemoaned the lack of audience interest in sequels and remakes. Heaimed at those seeking to repress the release ofThe Apprentice, which is neither a remake nor a sequel, by claiming “People In Your Country Don’t Want You To See It!!!" Check out the Tweet below:
Abbasi’s profanity-laden reply shows his frustration with the lack of a US release forThe Apprenticedue to the legal issues the movie has faced, namely from Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
CouldThe ApprenticeHave Helped The Box Office?
Hollywood Has Been Enduring Some Box Office Bumps Even With Their Major Movies.
WhetherThe Apprenticewill ever get a release is unclear, especially since investor Dan Snyder demanded a recut before any theatrical release.
Box office takings have been disappointing across the industry, withFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga’s Memorial Day struggles to help illustrate this. Hollywood is also still trying to recover from a string of expensive flops over the past year, including movies likeThe Fall GuyandMadame Web. Despite functioning as a biopic,The Apprenticeis at least a fresh, unique movie that is not a sequel, reboot, or part of a franchise, so Abbasi is right that it may have proven popular with audiences.
The movie’s title is a reference to Trump’s reality TV showThe Apprentice, which ran 15 seasons on NBC between 2004-2017 and spawned a British spinoff.
There is hope that the summer will provide a spike in interest in blockbusters and that the box office can recover, but this may depend on the product available. WhetherThe Apprenticewill ever get a release is unclear, especially sinceinvestor Dan Snyder demanded a recut before any theatrical release. Trump’s legal team is also trying toprevent the movie’s release with a recent cease and desist letter, likely until after the 2024 presidential election on November 5, amid likely concerns the movie could hurt his image, especially in the wake of his recent criminal conviction.
The timing could actually help to propelThe Apprenticeto box office success, even if it is released post-election. Hollywood is facing some trouble right now, with studios seemingly losing money with every release, and many in the industry will be keen to see movie takings increase across the industry. How much of a role movies likeThe Apprenticewill play in this is unclear, but the subject matter could help capture global interest.
The Apprentice
Cast
The Apprentice depicts a young Donald Trump in 1970s New York, highlighting his formative relationship with Roy Cohn, a ruthless attorney. As Trump seeks to establish his own legacy, Cohn identifies him as an ideal protégé, drawn to his ambition and determination to succeed at any cost.
