The first trailer for “The Apprentice,” a new biopic about former President Trump’s start in real estate, was released on Tuesday, giving the public a preview ahead of its October release.
“The Apprentice,” directed by Iranian Danish filmmaker Ali Abbassi, tells the story of young Trump, played by Sebastian Stan, and his rise in the real estate industry in New York with his former attorney and mentor Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong.
The trailer features Trump and Cohn meeting for the first time before the attorney delves into his three rules for success.
“Attack, attack, attack. Admit nothing, deny everything; no matter what happens, you claim victory and never admit defeat,” Cohn said.
“You have to be willing to do anything to anyone to win,” he later added.
Cohn’s remarks are played while a series of clips of Trump developing and discussing new buildings in New York, attending fancy events, some with his former wife, Ivana Trump, played by Maria Bakalova.
Towards the end of the trailer, a young Trump was asked what he would do if he lost his fortune, to which he quipped, “Well, then maybe I’ll run for president.”
“The Apprentice,” written by Gabe Sherman, premiered in May at the Cannes Film Festival. It reportedly received an eight-minute standing ovation at the festival but did not clinch any awards. The first preview clip was released last week.
The film will be released in the U.S. and Canadia on Oct. 11 ahead of the November election. Briarcliff Entertainment will roll out the release.
Trump’s team was heavily critical of the film following its showings earlier this year. Steven Cheung, the former president’s communications director, described it as “pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked.”
In May, a lawyer for Trump sent a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers, seeking to block the movie’s release. His team also threatened to file a suit for what it claimed were “blatantly false assertions.”
The filmmakers launched a Kickstarter last week called “Release the Apprentice” to “keep the film in as many theaters for as long as possible.”
