Sebastian Stan’s Transformation into Donald Trump
Preparing for ‘The Apprentice’
Sebastian Stan, known for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is set to portray Donald Trump in the upcoming film The Apprentice. Directed by Ali Abbasi and penned by Gabriel Sherman, the movie delves into Trump’s early years as a real estate mogul in 1970s New York, under the mentorship of the notorious Roy Cohn, former chief counsel to Joseph McCarthy. Joining Stan in the cast are Jeremy Strong from Succession as Roy Cohn, alongside Maria Bakalova and Martin Donovan.
The Immense Preparation
During a conversation with Variety, Stan elaborated on the rigorous process of transforming into Donald Trump. He meticulously studied over a hundred videos focusing on Trump’s mannerisms, speech patterns, and improvisational style. Accumulating a total of 562 videos and images from various time periods, Stan aimed to capture Trump’s essence, particularly his unique way of articulating consonants. Below are some of Stan’s insights:
“I had 130 videos on his physicality on my phone. And 562 videos that I had pulled with pictures from different time periods — from the ’70s all the way to today — so I could pull out his speech patterns and try to improvise like him. Ali could come in on the second take and say, ‘Why don’t you talk a little bit about the taxes and how you don’t want to pay?’ So I had to know what charities they were going to in 1983. Every night I would go home and try not only to prepare for the day that was coming, but also to prepare for where Ali was going to take this.”
Stan also revealed his dedication to altering his speech by adjusting his lip movements, driven by the need to mimic Trump’s consonant pronunciation. Despite the challenges, his commitment to the role remained unshaken.
Challenges in Capturing Trump’s Voice
Appearing in Variety’s series where actors guess lines from their renowned roles, Stan confessed the difficulty of capturing Trump’s voice. Watch the segment starting at the 6:00 minute mark for a glimpse into his process.
Stan’s research included studying impressions and archival footage, focusing on Trump’s younger years when his articulation was clearer. Although Stan is uncertain about the accuracy of his portrayal, he remains indifferent to public opinion. He remarked:
“I don’t know if I got the voice right. I mean here’s the thing, we are dealing with someone we’re seeing 24/7. Everyone’s got an opinion about this person. I watched everything I could find, anyone that’s ever done an impression of him, I’ve seen it. It definitely helped that I was playing him when he was much younger and if you go back and you look at those times, he sounded different. He spoke much more clearly. He actually sounded really smart and coherent. I did my best. I don’t know. Some people will think that was good or some people will think it’s shit. I don’t care.”
The Reason Behind Extensive Preparation
Staying Authentic Yet Flexible
Sebastian Stan’s thorough preparation for The Apprentice was pivotal, allowing him to remain authentic while being adaptable during filming. Director Ali Abbasi often encouraged Stan to improvise scenes using real-life details, necessitating a deep understanding of Trump’s history and character. This preparation enabled Stan to tackle spontaneous directions, such as discussing Trump’s tax strategies, and required nightly planning for upcoming challenges.
The Complexity of Mimicking Trump
Sebastian Stan's Best Movies, Ranked
Mimicking Trump’s distinct speech pattern presented a unique challenge for Stan, particularly in managing the movement of his lips influenced by consonants. Despite the extensive research and effort, Stan remains unsure about the portrayal’s authenticity. Recognizing the diverse opinions surrounding Trump, he adopts a laid-back stance regarding potential criticism, underscoring his dedication to the role regardless of the final outcome.
Our Perspective on Stan’s Depiction of Trump
A Humanizing Approach
While Donald Trump remains a polarizing figure, The Apprentice, and by extension, Sebastian Stan’s portrayal, aims to explore Trump’s beginnings rather than demonize him. The film seeks to uncover the influences and mentorship of Roy Cohn that shaped Trump’s early career. Avoiding parody, Stan’s performance strives for an authentic and humanizing depiction, a task he appears to have achieved, as indicated by unanimous praise from early reviews.
The Apprentice is set to hit theaters on October 11.
Source: Variety
The Apprentice
- Drama
- Biography
The Apprentice delves into the cutthroat world of corporate espionage through the eyes of a young intern who finds herself entangled in a dangerous game of deceit and betrayal in a multinational corporation, where every ally could be an enemy.
