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Ali Abbasi, Director of 'Holy Spider', to Make Film About Young Donald Trump's Life

Feb 5, 2026 February 5, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Ali Abbasi, the Iranian director of 'Holy Spider', is making a film titled 'Student' about young Donald Trump, featuring actors like Sebastian Stan and Maria Bakalova. This project highlights the intersection of politics and cinema, especially in the context of Abbasi's previous work and the ongoing discourse around Iranian cinema and its challenges.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Abbasi's film about Trump underscores the complex relationship between politics and cinema, reflecting broader themes of ambition and corruption.

👥 Key Players

Ali Abbasi MENTIONED
Director
"Abbasi is a prominent Iranian filmmaker whose work often addresses social issues in Iran, making him a significant voice in contemporary cinema."
Sebastian Stan MENTIONED
Actor
"Stan is a well-known actor in Hollywood, which brings attention and credibility to the film project."
Jeremy Strong MENTIONED
Actor
"Strong's involvement adds star power and draws interest from audiences familiar with his Emmy-winning performances."
Gabriel Sherman MENTIONED
Screenwriter
"Sherman is known for his work on political narratives, which aligns with the film's themes of power and ambition."

📰 What Happened

Ali Abbasi is set to direct a film titled 'Student' about the youth of former U.S. President Donald Trump, featuring actors like Sebastian Stan and Maria Bakalova. The film explores themes of power and ambition, reflecting on the origins of an American dynasty.

  • Production is expected to begin in early 2024.
  • Abbasi's previous film 'Holy Spider' received critical acclaim and sparked discussions on censorship and women's rights in Iran.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The film could draw international attention to Iran's social issues and the challenges faced by its filmmakers.
🌍 Regional: It may influence perceptions of Iranian culture and politics in the Middle East.
🌐 International: The film's focus on a controversial political figure like Trump may resonate with global audiences and provoke discussions on power dynamics.

📚 Background

Iranian cinema often grapples with censorship and social issues, making Abbasi's work particularly significant in highlighting these challenges.

Censorship in Iranian cinema Political narratives in film
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
Variety is a well-regarded entertainment industry publication, providing reliable information on film and media.

Variety magazine reported that Ali Abbasi, the Iranian director of 'Holy Spider', is set to depict the youth of former U.S. President Donald Trump in a film titled 'Student'. Sebastian Stan, known for his role in 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' and an Emmy winner, will play the young Donald Trump. Emmy winner Jeremy Strong will portray Roy Cohn, Trump's lawyer and advisor. It is said that Maria Bakalova, actress from 'Borat 2' and 'Bodies Bodies Bodies', will also appear in the film as Ivana Trump, Trump's first wife. 'Student' tells a story about power and ambition in a world of corruption and deception, focusing on the relationship between a mentor and a student that illustrates the origins of an American dynasty. Gabriel Sherman, author of 'The Loudest Voice', will write the screenplay for 'Student'. Production of the film is expected to begin in early 2024. Ali Abbasi achieved significant success in 2023 with 'Holy Spider', which was selected as Denmark's Best International Feature Film at the Oscars and competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Abbasi stated that attacks on 'Holy Spider' were aimed at diverting public attention from Iran's problems. Germans watched 'Holy Spider', analyzing women's conditions in Iran. Russia halted the screening of the Iranian film. Abbasi told Voice of America that the aim of the attacks on 'Holy Spider' was to distract public opinion from Iran's issues. A panel discussion on censorship and the challenges of independent cinema in Iran was held with Iranian filmmakers at the Cannes Festival, and dozens of prominent filmmakers at the Berlin Film Festival supported Iranian protesters.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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