Actor Sebastian Stan, widely recognized as Marvel’s The Winter Soldier, has been riding a wave of success recently. His portrayal in Aaron Schimberg’s A Different Man earned him the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at this year’s Berlinale, and he also appeared at Cannes to present Ali Abbas’ controversial biopic The Apprentice, where he plays Donald Trump. Both roles are transformative and outstanding, sparking significant awards buzz...

However, this success hasn’t prevented some Hollywood stars from keeping their distance. Stan has revealed that other actors have been hesitant to appear with him, fearing discussions about the president-elect. The Apprentice, released before the US election on November 5, includes a scene depicting Trump assaulting and raping his ex-wife, Ivana. This alleged 1989 incident was previously mentioned in their divorce proceedings, though Trump denied it and Ivana later refuted the claim before his 2015 presidential campaign. The film presents the incident without ambiguity.

The film faced intense backlash from Trump, who called those involved “human scum” and threatened legal action. On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “So sad that HUMAN SCUM, like those behind this hopefully unsuccessful venture, are permitted to say and do whatever they wish to harm a Political Movement far greater than any of us. MAGA2024!”

During a recent Q&A in Los Angeles about the film, Stan mentioned that the controversies surrounding The Apprentice have caused other actors to distance themselves from him, preventing his participation in Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series. “I couldn’t find another actor to pair with me, as they were too afraid to discuss this movie. So, I couldn’t participate,” explained the 42-year-old actor. Ramin Setoodeh, Variety’s Co-Editor in Chief, confirmed Stan’s account in a statement to People magazine.

Stan’s talent and The Apprentice’s portrayal of Trump’s story deserve recognition, despite the film’s polarizing nature. Our review of The Apprentice noted: “Stan excels as Trump, transforming the character from an eager aspirant to an out-of-touch figure. After his Silver Bear-winning performance in A Different Man, Stan uses prosthetics effectively, avoiding cheap mimicry by capturing Trump’s gestures and gradually adding more tics and verbal quirks. The Apprentice is not a great film, but it is compulsively watchable, destined to divide even those who detest Trump.”

Stan’s concerns about Hollywood’s reaction to Trump’s presidency set a troubling precedent. “If it becomes a situation of fear or discomfort to discuss this, then we’ll truly face a problem,” he added. “For many, accepting Trump as one of us is challenging, and I understand the high emotions, but that’s the only way to fully grasp this film.” The Apprentice premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and was released in theaters last month.

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