‘Apprentice’ star Jeremy Strong calls Trump film a ‘Frankenstein movie’: 'Creation of a monster...'

The buzz surrounding The Apprentice — the controversial biopic about a young Donald Trump and his mentorship under the ruthless Roy Cohn — has been building for years.

The movie, which took seven years to make and nearly fell apart multiple times, is now being released just before Election Day.

But actor Jeremy Strong, who plays Roy Cohn, isn’t buying the notion that its release is purely coincidental.

‘The timing might seem accidental, but it’s not,’ Strong told Variety at the film's premiere.

‘This is a monster movie — a Frankenstein movie about one monster creating another,’ he said. The actor added that while the film wasn’t designed to be partisan, it carries a clear point of view, exposing how Trump became what he is today.

The film’s depiction of Trump offers both moments of charm and deep controversy, from his rise through New York’s elite circles to the brutal, monster-like transformation.

Sebastian Stan gives an uncanny performance as Trump, while Strong delivers an exceptional portrayal of Cohn.

But the film doesn’t shy away from the dark side: it portrays disturbing scenes like Trump’s assault on Ivana and his ruthless tactics to humiliate Cohn as he succumbs to AIDS.

When asked whether the film is meant to humanize Trump or serve as a political hit piece, director Ali Abbasi had no hesitation. He pointed to the long road the film has faced and how it was an act of defiance against the powerful interests aligned with Trump.

‘After everything we’ve been through, this is our chance to release it,’ Abbasi said.

‘We’ve been up against corporations, Trump’s legal team, and lack of funding. If we don’t release it now, we might never get another shot,’ he said.

Despite facing a cease and desist from Trump’s legal team, Abbasi’s resolve remains firm.

He described the U.S. justice system as flawed, acknowledging that although he might win in court, he could lose everything in legal costs.

‘Trump has unlimited resources and friends who can bury anyone who stands in his way,’ he said.

Abbasi concluded with a scathing critique of the political system. ‘It’s not about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about the whole system of power. The U.S. political system is like WWE,’ he said.

As the premiere continued, former Trump fixer Michael Cohen was on hand to add his own thoughts. ‘If I were Trump, I’d sue,’ Cohen quipped. ‘But I think retaliation will be more sinister than anyone expects,’ he said.

Also Watch | Ratan Tata dies: Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra, Salman Khan, and more stars pay tribute