Donald Trump Movie ‘The Apprentice’ Launches Kickstarter to Raise Money for Longer Theatrical Release

Filmmakers of “The Apprentice,” a biographical drama in which Sebastian Stan portrays a young Donald Trump, are asking for money to bolster the film’s theatrical release.

In a highly unusual move, they launched a Kickstarter called “Release the Apprentice” to “keep the film in as many theaters for as long as possible,” according to a press release. The crowdfunding campaign features tiered reward levels based on donation amounts: $25 allows people to stream the film after it hits theaters, $100 grants donors a chance to see their name in a special section on the end credits. Higher level pledges include one of three actual toupees worn by Stan on-screen and VIP tickets to attend the film’s premiere in NYC.

“‘The Apprentice’ is first and foremost humanist, which makes it radically different from all the political noise,” said executive producer Amy Baer.

“Despite the integrity of the film and without even seeing it, Trump’s campaign sought to suppress it,” added producer Dan Bekerman. “The idea that artists can no longer freely criticize the powerful should concern us all. We need your help to resoundingly reject this dangerous precedent.”

“The Apprentice” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and landed at Briarcliff Entertainment after struggling to find a buyer. The 1970s-set film, directed by Ali Abbasi, proved controversial on the Croisette over a scene in which Trump rapes his then wife Ivana, played by Maria Bakalova. It takes place during the early years of Trump’s business career and centers on the former president’s relationship with cutthroat New York City prosecutor Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). “The Apprentice” will be released in theaters on Oct. 11.

Trump has criticized “The Apprentice” and his camp has threatened legal action over the movie, saying in a statement, “This garbage is pure fiction which sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked.”