Elon Musk is reportedly initiating legal proceedings against a documentary that recently premiered to much excitement, criticizing director Alex Gibney as a “terrible person” on social platforms. The film titled Musk, focusing on the world’s wealthiest individual, was showcased at the Venice Film Festival and garnered a standing ovation lasting five minutes.
Described as a deep dive into the life of a man who has made a name for himself as a controversial figure on the far-right and the head of a trillion-dollar technology empire, the documentary spans nearly four hours. It sheds light on Musk’s journey through various enterprises, his ever-changing technological promises, and his associations with influential figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Receiving critical acclaim, Musk was labeled by The Guardian as an “epic study of the world’s wealthiest yet most mundane man,” while Deadline portrayed Musk as “petty, narcissistic, megalomaniacal, and detached from personal relationships, despite advocating for humanity’s salvation through Martian colonization.”
Following its Venice premiere, Musk is scheduled for its Canadian debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14. Musk had previously denounced the documentary as a “hit job” when it was announced in 2023, reiterating this sentiment multiple times on social media over the past week.
In response to the film, Musk has been actively engaging with supporters on X, branding the documentary as “dull” and questioning Gibney’s integrity. Musk’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, issued a legal warning to the production, emphasizing the need for factual accuracy and threatening legal action if not adhered to.
Jigsaw Productions, the company behind the documentary, defended its accuracy in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, advocating for the exploration of influential figures as part of free speech rights.
The film delves into Musk’s trajectory from his upbringing in South Africa to his ventures with Zip2 and PayPal, culminating in his ventures with Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, X, and his ambitions in artificial intelligence. It also scrutinizes his ties with Trump and his tenure at the Department of Government Efficiency, where he played a role in restructuring the U.S. Agency for International Development, leading to significant global repercussions.
Featuring interviews with key figures like Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard, Musk’s ex-wife Justine Musk, neuroscientist Sam Harris, tech journalist Kara Swisher, and former USAID administrator Samantha Power, the documentary provides a comprehensive examination of Musk’s life and controversies.
The documentary is set to hit select theaters in North America on October 16, with a wider release scheduled for October 23.