It is a first for the United States of America to have a former president being held guilty on several counts of felony. Former President Donald Trump, also a popular presidential candidate for this year’s elections, has been found guilty of 34 counts by a New York court in Lower Manhattan.
As he awaits sentencing, his Sebastian Stan-starrer biopic has been struggling to land distributors. While the problem is more of an economic and political one, the controversial biopic has already been sent a cease-and-desist letter by Trump’s lawyers to withhold its release.
Sebastian Stan’s Donald Trump Biopic Fails to Land Distributors
In a historic event, Former President Donald Trump has just become the first American President to be convicted on 34 charges. On Thursday, a New York jury found him guilty of covering up a s*x scandal and falsifying records that threatened to disrupt his presidential campaign of 2016. Now, awaiting sentencing on July 11, Trump is the first Presidential candidate to be a convicted felon (via The New York Times).
In the midst of Trump’s legal troubles, his controversial Sebastian Stan-starrer biopic, The Apprentice has been struggling to find distributors. As per a report by Variety, the Ali Abbasi-directed flick was well received by critics and even got an 8-minute standing ovation at Cannes but no major studio seems to be scrambling to secure its rights.
From Disney to Sony Pictures, companies are apparently scared to secure the distribution right to not get on Trump’s bad side since he is a running contender for the upcoming Presidential elections, as per the team of The Apprentice. According to Variety, the studios might have a lingering fear that if the ex-prez does become President again he might be able to use his position to affect deals and procedures of whichever company invests in the biopic.
Furthermore, the movie’s investor Dan Snyder is Trump’s friend and has found the biopic controversial due to its depiction of Trump. Also having sent a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers, The Apprentice seeing the light of the day is a feat that seems impossible for now.
Fans React to Sebastian Stan’s The Apprentice Distribution Woes
The Apprentice’s failure to gain distributors in the US has sparked another controversy of its own, with filmmaker Ali Abbasi equating the issue with fascism and censorship (see Variety). With everyone from major studios to minor ones hesitating to secure the movie’s distribution rights, fans are having a hard time believing that, for once, studios are putting fear over money.
As the news about the movie’s ongoing struggle went viral, this is what fans had to say about the issue.
Ha, the famous “liberal” Hollywood.
— Tzippy Shmilovitz 🎗️ (@Tzipshmil) May 31, 2024
The more controversy the more it will make.
— alphabetsoup (@herewego8645) May 31, 2024
Can’t believe they put fear over greed for once.
— Fran A Day 🟧 (@franticee) June 1, 2024
Cowards as always
— Monica (@Monicabbm) June 1, 2024
It is a risk and holy hell, the people behind the movie have all my humble respect. "Free" and "Liberal" States… Yeah *right*…
— skorpina18 (@n18skorpina) May 31, 2024
While Donald Trump awaits sentencing, The Apprentice securing a distribution deal anytime soon looks like a mirage. Yet, fans and filmmakers have their hopes set that some fearless studio will come forward and have it released.
For now, The Apprentice is neither getting a theatrical nor an OTT release anytime soon.
