Director of upcoming Trump biopic apprentice The King of Fighters claims the controversial film is “not offensive” and not particularly “anti-Trump”, despite depicting a young Donald Trump as a rapist.
Ali Abbasi also accused Hollywood studios of artistic censorship. Interview The Wrap screened the film at the Toronto International Film Festival and it is due for release in the US on October 11th.
Abbasi, who is originally from Iran, said he didn't expect making his film about Trump would be so difficult.
“I thought, 'Fuck Iran. Fuck the Islamic dictatorship,' and I thought, 'Let's make a film in a free country,'” he told the outlet.
He revealed that he offered financial backing to the studio six years ago.
“They'd say to me, 'We want to do this movie, but if Trump wins or the studio gets sold, they'll come after us.' Or they'd say, 'We don't want to be hated by 85 million consumers.'
In the end, funding was raised mainly from foreign and domestic film companies. apprentice It faced similar rejection from major studios and streamers, but was ultimately picked up by indie label Briarcliff Entertainment for domestic distribution.
“Yes, we are here, but I would call it a form of censorship,” Abbasi added.
Ultimately, he told TheWrap, the film isn't so much anti-Trump.
