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As ‘The Apprentice’ Seeks Cannes Sale, Trump Team Sends Cease and Desist Letter to Block Film’s Release

posted 6 months ago by Satan2016 (25525)
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https://variety.com/2024/film/news/apprentice-donald-trump-team-cease-and-desist-letter-sebastian-stan-jeremy-strong-1236015819/

Attorneys for Donald Trump have sent a cease and desist letter to the filmmakers behind “The Apprentice” in an effort to block its U.S. sale and release. It warns the team behind the film not to pursue a distribution deal, according to two people who have read the letter. “The Apprentice,” which looks at Trump’s early years as a real estate developer and his relationship with Roy Cohn, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

“The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president,” the producers of the film said in a statement regarding the cease-and-desist letter. “We want everyone to see it and then decide.”

The movie, which was independently produced, stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and Jeremy Strong as Cohn. It presents a damning portrait of the former president as an ethically compromised, philanderer who stiffs contractors and cuts deals with the mob to get his buildings completed. It includes other controversial details, including a scene where Trump rapes his first wife, Ivana, and depicts him abusing amphetamines to lose weight, as well as undergoing liposuction and plastic surgery.

Trump’s camp responded with a blistering note, threatening legal action. “This ‘film’ is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the straight-to-DVD section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store, it belongs in a dumpster fire,” Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director, said in a statement.

At a press conference in Cannes for “The Apprentice,” Abbasi responded to Trump’s legal threats. “Everybody talks about him suing a lot of people — they don’t talk about his success rate though, you know?” he said. He also offered to screen the movie for Trump, saying, “I don’t necessarily think that this is a movie he would dislike.”

[–] Satan2016 (25525) 6 months ago

Controversial Donald Trump Movie ‘The Apprentice’ Made a Splash in Cannes. Is Hollywood Too Scared to Release It?
https://variety.com/2024/film/news/donald-trump-movie-the-apprentice-cannes-release-hollywood-legal-issues-1236020018/

And that’s not the only issue. Some companies just don’t want to risk alienating a substantial part of the country. Disney, which emerged battered and bruised from its battle with Florida over the state’s laws affecting the LGBTQ+ community, might be loath to touch a movie like “The Apprentice” and re-enter the culture wars.

Complicating matters is the fact that the film’s investor, billionaire Dan Snyder, must approve any sale. Sources say the former Washington Commanders owner and Trump friend was furious with the portrayal of the former president after screening a cut of the movie in February. While the first half of the film presents a kinder, gentler Trump, depicting him as a social striver with daddy issues, the second half sees the future reality TV star-turned-politician devolve into a narcissist who loses his moral compass and is disloyal to his mentor, Roy Cohn. He’s also depicted raping his first wife, Ivana, and abusing amphetamines.