Sebastian Stan may be in the running for an Oscar for his portrayal of a young Donald Trump.

However, the Marvel actor was initially unsure about taking on the role in “The Apprentice” (which hits theaters on Friday), a dramatic retelling of how lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong) trained Trump to become a prominent real estate mogul and media presence in the 1980s.

“How do you portray the most recognized figure in the world? Someone people have such strong feelings about and have established impressions of?” Stan expresses. After discussing the project with director Ali Abbasi, he felt reassured that there was a deeper narrative worth exploring—specifically, the motivations behind people’s actions.

The film has stirred controversy, angering Trump and some critics who believe it presents a misguidedly sympathetic view of the former president, especially as he campaigns again prior to the November 5 election.

“The goal was to portray these individuals in a human light,” Abbasi explains. Consequently, “some feel it favors him too much, while others argue it is too harsh. I don’t aim to produce propaganda for Trump, nor do I want to make a smear piece. Our creative direction shouldn’t be dictated by current political climates.”

Stan, now 42, shares how he endeavored to portray a Trump that was both “subtle” and “recognizable.”

Young Donald Trump had a more ‘coherent’ persona than now

To prepare for his role, Stan immersed himself in recordings of Trump for three months leading up to filming: “It became as integral to my routine as breathing,” he recalls. “No matter what I was doing—brushing my teeth, cooking, or driving—I had Trump’s speeches playing. I was focused on capturing his unique manner of speaking, which was quite distinct back then compared to today’s fragmented style.” He references a 1988 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where Trump spoke rapidly and was surprisingly articulate.

Anticipating that some dialogue would be improvised, he memorized various Trump speeches to have key phrases readily available. “He developed a kind of muscle memory, thinking, ‘I might need this at any moment,’” Abbasi shares.

Sebastian Stan tapped into ‘Zoolander’ for Trump’s gestures

Each morning while getting ready, Stan analyzed Trump’s extensive 1980 interview with Rona Barrett, who he was interviewed by at age 34. “I noticed how his eyes divert when he has a new thought, or the way he adjusts himself in his seat—he never appears as at ease as he aims to present,” Stan remarks. “It felt as though he was still grappling with his public image back then.”

He also viewed news footage of Trump alongside his then-wife Ivana, noting “the way he would enter venues exuding this ‘Blue Steel’ pose for the camera,” referencing the iconic expression from the 2001 comedy “Zoolander.” “This is clearly a person who is quite self-aware, and that’s exactly what his body language conveys. None of it felt natural to me.”

The Marvel actor maintained a sushi and ramen diet to appear ‘more bloated’

Directly after stepping into the shoes of Trump, Stan began filming Marvel’s “Thunderbolts,” which meant he was still in superhero shape when he arrived for his role in “The Apprentice.” “I found myself in much better shape than I ideally needed to be for this part,” he stated.

“Ali pointed out, ‘You don’t quite resemble (Trump). Your bone structures are different.’” Stan experimented with prosthetics, but they didn’t look quite right. Consequently, he consulted a nutritionist.

“I asked, ‘What can I do to look more puffy in the face?’” the actor shares. “He responded, ‘You need to increase your carbohydrate intake. Eat more sushi and ramen loaded with soy sauce and salt.’ I tried to follow this advice to complement our prosthetic work.”

The Director of ‘The Apprentice’ Prioritized Trump’s Hair

The show “Apprentice” represents the former president over many years, needing three to four different wigs to showcase his hair’s transformation. Acknowledging that Trump’s signature messy, sandy hair is a major aspect of his identity, Abbasi admits he became “obsessively focused” on getting it perfectly replicated.

“Trump has a higher vanity level than most. He resembles Samson: his hair holds his power,” Abbasi emphasizes. “You can trace his character evolution through it. In the 1970s, his hair was wild and unruly, transitioning to a slicker, well-groomed style in the ’80s. As he started to lose hair, he found clever methods to cover it up, which later led to tensions with Ivana when she told him he was going bald.”

Ali Abbasi Discusses the Recreation of Trump’s Suits and Self-Tanner

Initially, Trump is portrayed in the movie wearing brown and mustard suits, going door to door to collect rent from destitute tenants for his real estate mogul father, Fred (Martin Donovan). As the narrative progresses into the ‘80s and Trump gains weight, the suit styles become baggier and the colors become “more vibrant,” according to Abbasi. “One of the first costumes we finalized was the infamous ‘Scarface’ ensemble, featuring a red shirt and white jacket, taken straight from a vintage photograph. Then when he moved to Florida, his attire switched to a lighter, more tropical look. His wardrobe truly depicts a style evolution.”

His well-known bronzer also makes a notable appearance, as Ivana critiques him for appearing overly orange. Although he might deny it, Trump’s fascination with grooming products reportedly dates back many years, starting when a member of the movie’s makeup team assisted him for an event.

“While applying mascara, he denied to the makeup artist that he was wearing makeup already,” Abbasi recollects with amusement. “He insisted, ‘Dude, I’m aware you do! I’m just here to help!’ Ultimately, Trump is a character who is always playing another character.”