In a surprising turn of events, "The Apprentice," a highly anticipated film dramatizing the rise of Donald Trump in the New York City real estate industry and his association with influential figure Roy Cohn, is set for a theatrical release in October. According to a source familiar with the matter, independent distributor Briarcliff Entertainment has scheduled the movie to hit screens on October 11.

"The Apprentice" stars Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong, known for his role in "Succession," portraying Roy Cohn, one of the former president's key mentors. The film originally premiered in May at the 77th Cannes Film Festival and quickly became a center of sociopolitical controversy.

The Trump campaign swiftly condemned the movie, with spokesman Steven Cheung denouncing it as "pure malicious defamation" and vowing legal action against the filmmakers. While it remains unclear whether a lawsuit has been filed, Cheung reaffirmed the campaign's position in a recent statement responding to inquiries.

One significant source of contention surrounding the film is a dramatized scene depicting an alleged incident in which Trump sexually assaulted his first wife, Ivana, portrayed by Maria Bakalova from "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm." Ivana Trump had previously made the accusation during her 1990 divorce deposition, which Donald Trump vehemently denied. Later, Ivana clarified that she didn't mean it literally but felt violated by her ex-husband. She passed away in 2022.

Directed by Iranian Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi and penned by Vanity Fair journalist Gabriel Sherman, who has extensively covered Trump and his political allies, "The Apprentice" has garnered attention for its controversial subject matter. Roy Cohn, a key figure in Trump's life, also plays a prominent role in the film. Cohn, who denied being HIV-positive, succumbed to AIDS-related complications in 1986 at the age of 59.

Despite the legal threats, director Ali Abbasi expressed his willingness for Donald Trump to view the movie, inviting a dialogue about its context and offering to arrange a screening followed by a conversation. Notably, Briarcliff Entertainment was also responsible for the distribution of critically acclaimed documentary "Fahrenheit 11/9" in 2018, which delved into the 2016 presidential election and Trump's initial years in office.

As the release of "The Apprentice" approaches, audiences and critics alike eagerly await the film's depiction of Trump's journey and the controversies surrounding it.