Documentarian Alex Gibney Unpacks Elon Musk’s Power and Influence in New Film

POLICY WIRE — Venice, Italy — Documentarian Alex Gibney, known for exposing powerful figures and institutions, has turned his lens on Elon Musk for his latest project. The four-hour documentary titled “Musk” is set to debut at the Venice Film Festival, drawing significant attention as one of the most anticipated films of the year.

Gibney’s work has previously examined high-profile subjects such as Enron, Elizabeth Holmes, and the U.S. military’s actions in Bagram and Abu Ghraib. However, he claims nothing compares to the scale of influence wielded by Musk. The film will be released in theaters by Bleecker Street in October.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Gibney discussed the complexities of portraying Musk, including his ability to inspire confidence in future visions that often lack factual backing. He also explored Musk’s shift toward supporting former President Donald Trump, citing financial incentives and legal pressures as key factors.

Gibney noted that Musk’s approach mirrors past figures like those from Enron and Elizabeth Holmes, where truth was bent to serve a perceived greater cause. Despite this, he emphasized that Musk’s companies, such as SpaceX and Tesla, employ highly skilled professionals. The filmmaker also reflected on the difficulty of gaining insights into Musk’s inner circle, highlighting the fear and reluctance among those close to him to speak openly.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)