Filmmaker Alex Gibney’s documentary about Elon Musk has released its first promotional teaser ahead of major film festival debuts. The project will make its world premiere out of competition at the Venice International Film Festival on September 8, followed by a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The 48-second teaser presents a deliberately contradictory portrait of the billionaire entrepreneur. While showcasing imagery of spacecraft and aerospace technology, the accompanying commentary shifts dramatically in tone. Initial remarks describe Musk as potentially the greatest living inventor and a visionary builder, but the narrative quickly pivots to characterize him as chaotic, cruel, and even employing political terminology to describe his behavior.
The nearly four-hour documentary marks a significant production effort, featuring an original song from Talking Heads frontman David Byrne titled “Let Me Sell You a Dream.” The project reunites Gibney with multiple collaborators and producers across several production companies. Musk previously anticipated the film would be critical when news of its production emerged in 2023, though Gibney challenged this assessment on social media.
This documentary joins a growing collection of high-profile films examining polarizing contemporary figures. The teaser’s deliberate juxtaposition of contradictory viewpoints suggests Gibney intends to explore the complexity and divisiveness surrounding Musk’s public persona and influence.
Originally reported by Variety →
About the Author
