The film “The Apprentice” has been met with resistance from the entertainment industry, with many actors and industry professionals refusing to engage with the project. The film, which tells the story of Donald Trump’s early life and the influence of his mentor Roy Cohn, has been met with a lack of enthusiasm, with many fearing that it will be seen as validating Trump’s presidency and power.
Jeremy Strong, who plays Roy Cohn in the film, believes that the lack of interest in the project is due to people’s fear of being associated with it. “People have been afraid to touch this film, to be seen as complicit in the film, to support the film and certainly to publicly endorse the film and show the film on a streaming platform,” he said.
Sebastian Stan, who plays Trump in the film, echoed Strong’s sentiments, saying, “When it comes to artistry and creativity, we have to be able to protect free speech. It shouldn’t be selective free speech. It should be free speech on all fronts. We can’t get normalized about what we can and can’t talk about.”
Despite its 83 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has been largely ignored by the industry. Stars who have publicly supported the film, such as Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro, are now absent from the public sphere, and the lack of engagement has been met with frustration from the film’s cast and crew.
The reaction to the film’s reception has brought into question the role of celebrities in politics, and whether their actions can still be a catalyst for change. The silence from the industry has been met with complaints from fans who feel that their favorite stars are abandoning their platform and normalized what they cannot discuss.
As the 2024 election approaches, the question remains whether celebrities will continue to play a role in the political process, or if they will remain silent.