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Sebastian Stan earns Oscar nod for Donald Trump portrayal in ‘The Apprentice’

Sebastian Stan has earned a 2025 Academy Award nomination for his role as a young Donald Trump in The Apprentice, directed by Ali Abbasi. 

The film, written by Gabriel Sherman, explores Trump’s rise in the 1980s real estate world with the guidance of attorney Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong, who also received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Despite critical acclaim and two Oscar nods, The Apprentice faced significant controversy. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the film sparked legal action from Trump’s attorneys, including a cease-and-desist letter targeting its marketing. The controversy deepened when producer Kinematics, backed by Trump ally Daniel Snyder, sold its stake in the film over objections to a scene depicting Trump’s alleged rape of Ivana Trump, played by Maria Bakalova.

Released by Briarcliff Entertainment on October 11, ahead of Trump’s reelection victory over Kamala Harris, the film struggled at the box office despite awards buzz. It failed to secure distribution from major U.S. studios or streaming platforms.

Stan, already a Golden Globe winner this year for his role in A Different Man, competes for Best Actor against Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), and Ralph Fiennes (Conclave).

Discussing the film on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Stan said, “It’s the experience of being with this person for two hours and asking yourself, ‘Do you really trust this guy to make decisions for you or just for himself?’”


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