Fresh off Ali Abassi’s “The Apprentice,” a much higher profiled, big-budget biopic about Donald Trump is currently in development, spearheaded by Andrea Iervolino, the producer behind “Ferrari.” Unlike Abassi’s film, this biopic would span Trump’s entire life.
Iervolino plans to present the project to potential collaborators at the Cannes market, with production tentatively scheduled to begin in the U.S. by late 2025. The film is expected to carry a hefty budget, reportedly around $100M, though casting decisions have not yet been finalized.
Curiously, Deadline’s sources suggest this portrayal of Trump will take a “kinder” approach compared to “The Apprentice,” the Oscar-nominated biopic featuring Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan. That film drew strong objections from Trump’s camp, who even attempted to block its release around this time last year.
Here’s a statement from Iervolino:
A major new biographical film centered on the life and legacy of Donald J. Trump — real estate mogul, television icon, and 45th and 47th President of the United States.” It’s not clear if Iervolino has reached out to Trump’s team. Whether one agrees or disagrees with his politics, there’s no denying Donald Trump’s impact on the modern era. As a producer, I’m interested in exploring the deeper story of the man — the rise, the challenges, the resilience. Our goal is to deliver a film that is bold, balanced, and artistically ambitious.
Dramatizing Trump? He’s dramatic enough. He’s already a spectacle.
I’m of the mindset that making a movie about Trump is damn-near impossible because of his intensely polarizing reputation. His real-life persona is so extreme that any portrayal risks becoming parody. Yes, Sebastian Stan did a great job in “The Apprentice,” but that film only tackled ‘70s and ‘80s Trump. Iervolino wants to make a film that would include Trump’s ascension to the Presidency.
Given the $100M budget, I would imagine they will be looking to cast famous actors, but who would actually want to fearlessly be a part of this film? Jon Voight? Mel Gibson? Sylvester Stallone? Jim Caviezel? Dennis Quaid? Zachary Levi? Rob Schneider? Kevin Sorbo? James Woods? Dean Quaid?