In a new interview on the MeidasTouch Network, host Ben Meiselas sat down with The Apprentice writer Gabe Sherman to discuss the film that Donald Trump tried—and failed—to block. Set to be released on October 11th, The Apprentice explores Trump’s relationship with his mentor, infamous lawyer Roy Cohn, and how it shaped the former president’s scorched-earth political tactics.
Trump has threatened to sue the filmmakers in typical fashion, but Sherman brushed off the threats. “Donald Trump threatens to sue the mailman,” Sherman quipped. “This is a classic playbook he learned from Cohn.”
The film, which has been seven years in the making, stars Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn and Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump. Sherman noted that Stan’s portrayal isn’t a caricature but a deeply nuanced performance. “He completely disappears into the role,” Sherman said. “It’s so real and subtle, and I hope it peels back the curtain on who Trump really is.”
Sherman also emphasized the film’s relevance today, particularly in light of Trump’s ongoing influence within the Republican Party. “I never thought this movie would be coming out in an election season,” he said, highlighting how the film sheds light on the roots of Trump’s current political behavior. The timing, Sherman said, was coincidental but couldn’t be more appropriate, as the film lands at a moment when Trump remains at the forefront of American politics.
During the interview, Meiselas played a clip of Trump’s recent speech in Erie, Pennsylvania, where Trump bizarrely compared migrants to Hollywood actors. Trump has long exhibited a “love-hate relationship” with celebrities, according to Sherman. “He craves their approval, but he can’t get it because of his politics,” he said, noting that Trump’s inability to win over Hollywood only fuels his sense of victimhood.
Sherman explained that The Apprentice isn't just an exposé on Trump—it’s an insightful look at how his tactics were born out of the mentorship he received from Cohn. “It’s a wild ride, but it’s also very illuminating,” Sherman said, adding that viewers will see the world differently after watching the film. He hopes the film can reveal deeper truths about Trump in a way traditional media hasn’t been able to.
With its release just around the corner, The Apprentice is poised to provide a unique perspective on Trump’s rise to power and the man behind his most ruthless strategies. Despite Trump’s efforts to suppress the film, the truth will hit theaters on October 11th.
We hope you enjoy our full interview with Sherman, which you can watch above ad free right here on Substack. If you are able to support our work, please consider becoming a paid member today!
I am really looking forward to watching this movie. And don't forget that tRump isn't running for the presidency as much as he is running from prison. Vote 💙 on 11/5!
Looking forward as well!
Exactly!
The writer misspeaks when he says that after Nixon's resignation, the right said it happened because it didn't have "its own media propaganda apparatus." It implies that the left had one in place, or he would have said "it didn't have a propaganda apparatus." Watergate didn't happen because of left wing propaganda. It happened because the GOP broke into the Dem space at Watergate illegally, and Woodward and Bernstein (a Republican) reported on that story until they got it and burned Nixon to the ground.
This is gonna be a Great movie 🎥 Can't wait!! Thanks for the video Too, will reStack ASAP 💯👍💙🌊
Where can we see this in Australia please? Happy to pay big bikkies to help increase the audience numbers of this movie (and annoy the orange one when it gets the best ratings, the best anyone has ever seen, no one has ever seen ratings as good as these...).
Love the trailer edit with Kamala Destroying Trump in their debate! Already got my tickets for "The Apprentice"...
I really hope this Cohn Trump Origin Story expose gets a solid 2 week box office return (maybe more as Joker 2 is bombing) and gets to streaming VoD at least a week prior to Nov. 5th, to take on the onslaught of Right Wing fare in cinemas the last month:
The myopic and far too rose colored glasses "Reagan", the meh attempt to copy Sasha Baron Cohen's "Borat" films via "Am I Racist?" from Daily Wire's fave bigot Matt Walsh, then we have God's Not Dead 5 wait? What!? They made FIVE of those faux "religious persecution" movies, and we cannot leave out Far Right Wing "documentary auteur" - and already banhammered for his awful "2,000 Mules" doc - D'nesh Disouza's latest 100% false Conspiracy Nut entry "The Vindication of Trump", his bullshit MAGA Earth 2.0 take on Trump's SEVERAL Jan6th related Fed. Indictments (now revised by Jack & Tanya!) ready to roll once Kamala beats him in November :)
Reporting both sides as equals by the media is not unique to Trump. As an avid science fan and scientific skeptic, I have seen all sorts of pseudoscience reported as equal to real science. Reporting pseudoscience is fine, but those claims are not equal to scientific claims and should not be treated as such.
The same goes for all the lies and conspiracies spewing from Trump and MAGA. Those lies are not equal to the truth.
There should be some sort of litmus test for journalist so they can point to such litmus when false claims are being made. Not all claims are equal.
Whatever happened to the George Clooney movie about Ohio State wrestling scandal and Jim Jordan's role in the coverup?
I'm eager to see this.
In this time of testing some of the most conservative Republicans have stood up for the constitution, the rule of law, oath & honor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8CK40YTbKk&t=440s
MAGA DEI - deranged, egomaniacal, incompetent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWvpdYMK0Js
Trump & MAGA whine about booming Bidenomics. 98% of jobs created since 1989 were created during Democratic administrations. Republicans have lost jobs while ballooning the deficit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbPBuk5QoV8
Never mind….Got it!
You’re doing such important work. Thanks!!! BTW, this comment is not important but as a pedantic editor, I’m pointing out that you are writing cardinal numbers incorrectly. October 11th should be October 11. OK to write 11th of October. But, who cares? Lots of Google articles about this frequent error.
Where will this movie be showing? I live in Vietnam, so I can't go out to a theater to see it and would like to know where else it might be playing.
I won't see it. It's seems more about how Cohn taught trump perversion. Disgusting.
That’s just it, #trump is Roy Cohn’s apprentice. It is important to realise the malevolent forces at work exploiting & being exploited for the sake of money & power. There is none so blind than a man with eyes that will not see.
I can’t figure out how to watch this!! 🤯
It's going to be released in 2,000 theaters. No streaming info yet.
This movie should be awesome & as on of the small backers I'm excited
Gonna wait until it streams on tv to watch . I hate going to theaters, never have like it.
https://forward.com/culture/659964/the-apprentice-roy-cohn-cousin-donald-trump-jeremy-strong/?amp=1