Donald Trump’s mental journey—New York property tycoon, reality telly king, and now 45th and 47th U.S. President—is getting the full Hollywood razzle-dazzle. A new, untitled biopic, backed by Ferrari producer Andrea Iervolino, is revving up with a stonking £80 million ($100 million) budget, set to start filming in the U.S. by late 2025. Announced via Deadline, it’s being hyped at Cannes as “a major new biographical film centred on the life and legacy of Donald J. Trump—real estate mogul, television icon, and 45th and 47th President of the United States.” Promising to be “kinder” than last year’s brutal The Apprentice, this blockbuster wants to tackle Trump’s entire wild ride. So, what’s the vibe with this mega-project, and can it handle such a marmite figure? Let’s have a butcher’s.
Nothing Like The Apprentice
If you saw The Apprentice in 2024, you know it didn’t exactly give Trump a big hug. Directed by Ali Abbasi, with Sebastian Stan as a young Trump and Jeremy Strong as dodgy lawyer Roy Cohn, it zoomed in on his ruthless ‘70s and ‘80s hustle. It nabbed Oscar nods but bombed, pulling in just £13.6 million ($17 million) against a £12.8 million ($16 million) budget. Trump’s crew called it “defamatory,” chucking legal threats to stop it, though they got nowhere. Critics loved its edge, but The Atlantic reckoned it struggled to dig up anything new about a bloke already plastered everywhere.
Iervolino’s biopic is a totally different kettle of fish. While The Apprentice stuck to Trump’s early days, this one’s going for the full monty: Trump Tower, The Art of the Deal, The Apprentice telly show, and both White House stints. Deadline says it’s about “the rise, the challenges, the resilience,” with Iervolino aiming for a “bold, balanced, and artistically ambitious” flick. He told, “Whether you’re with his politics or not, you can’t deny Donald Trump’s mark on the modern world.” The big hook? Sources say it’ll be “kinder” to Trump, dodging the savage tone that got The Apprentice in a right pickle.
What’s This “Kinder” Malarkey?
“Kinder” is the word getting tongues wagging. Does it mean a proper love-in or just less of a kicking than The Apprentice, which Film Stories said showed Trump as “the worst version of himself”? Iervolino, an Italian producer behind shiny biopics like Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend and The Music of Silence, wants balance, not a slagging-off. His team’s pitch paints Trump’s life as a game-changer, but there’s no word on whether they’ve had a natter with Trump’s lot, which could tilt things. The plan seems to be a film that covers his ups and downs without half the audience storming out.
Iervolino’s got company in Keya Morgan, a Trump fan and ex-Stan Lee manager with a bit of a murky past, including elder abuse claims, per NBC Philadelphia. Morgan’s baggage has some folks raising an eyebrow at the project’s vibe. Still, Iervolino’s CV screams big-ticket stuff—think Ferrari with Adam Driver or Maserati: The Brothers with Anthony Hopkins. With £80 million to play with, expect proper stars, though no actors, writers, or directors are signed up yet.
Who’s Gonna Watch This?
Trump’s a tough one for a biopic. His life—Mar-a-Lago, those gold escalators, endless news—is already a circus. The Apprentice flopped partly because, as Hollywood in Toto put it, punters were knackered by Trump overload. With him back in the White House, his story’s still rolling, which might make this feel like a half-baked highlight reel. Trump’s tariff threats on foreign films, per ABC News, could also muck things up for Iervolino, an international producer.
So, who’s queuing up? Trump’s fans might lap up a film that bigs up his grit and never-say-die spirit, especially if it skips the shade. But doubters and casual viewers might scoff at a “kinder” take, especially with Morgan’s dodgy rep. Casting’s gonna be massive—after Stan’s cracking Trump, who’s next? World of Reel chucked out names like Jon Voight or Dennis Quaid, but bagging top talent for a divisive role ain’t a doddle. Iervolino’s banking on star power.
Can It Work a Treat?
A £80 million Trump biopic is a proper gamble. Iervolino’s Cannes pitch needs to nab partners sharpish, and the tone’s a tightrope. Too Trumpy, and it’s written off as tosh; too harsh, and it’s The Apprentice all over. The budget screams glitz—think lush Trump Tower shots, sparkly telly sets, and White House drama—but getting the story right is the real hurdle. Iervolino’s biopic knack leans toward crowd-pleasers, which might help dodge the aggro. Filming’s set for late 2025, likely hitting screens in 2026, per Reforma.
Will it be a belter or a belly-up? Hard to say, but Trump’s a draw, like it or not. As Iervolino told Deadline, “Hated. Adored. Never ignored.” Keep your peepers on Cannes for casting buzz—this one’s gonna kick up a right fuss.
Source: Deadline
