Released last year,The Apprentice portrays a young Donald Trump trying to break free from the shackles of his father and establish a career as a real estate businessman in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s.

The film specifically explores his relationship with attorney Roy Cohn (played by Succession actor Jeremy Strong).

Grossing $17.3 million at the global box office, the film drew plaudits for the acting, directing, and editing, with particular attention to the performances of Sebastian Stan (playing Trump) and Strong with both men shortlisted for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor at the 2025 Oscars.

Stan on playing Trump

Speaking to NPR’s Fresh Air podcast, the Romanian born actor reflected on how it was to play such a divisive character as Trump.

“Trump picked up so much from Roy Cohn....the victimhood, blaming, the revenge tactics, all that we go in depth in the film that he had absorbed from Cohn. You really do see the influence, the way he’s learned to flip things around on the other person and kind of just always just be denying reality and reshaping the truth as long as it fits his narrative and the complete utter lack of acceptance for any criticism or any wrongdoing or anything whatsoever”.

“Trump tried to block the movie as the truth hurts, and there is something truthful to the movie”, concluded Stan.

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