Universal is reportedly reconsidering the release of Alex Gibney's four-hour documentary, 'Musk,' which has been met with positive reviews at recent film festivals. The Hollywood Reporter claims that the studio, which paid millions for the rights in 2023, is now likely to return them to Gibney for resale.
The documentary, which secured access to figures close to Musk and those who comment on his political influence, reportedly features claims by former partner Ashley St. Clair. These include an assertion that Musk was aware of the 2024 election result hours before its official announcement due to "lasers in space," a claim that Musk's attorney Alex Spiro has publicly contested. Spiro stated in a letter to the filmmakers that Starlink satellites communicate via laser inter-satellite links, and that the "lasers in space" insinuation regarding election rigging is false and has been refuted by election officials and cybersecurity researchers.
Jigsaw Productions, the film's production company, defended their work, stating a right to "open debate and fact-based examinations of powerful public figures" protected by the First Amendment. Musk himself has publicly criticized the documentary on social media, calling it a "hit piece" and a "false film," though neither he nor his attorney have seen the completed movie. Gibney noted that Musk declined to be interviewed for the film.
The documentary reportedly uses CGI re-enactments of Musk's public comments, described as a "literal staging of the film's theme, a man who manufactures his reality." Rivera, who reviewed the film, concluded that while it is not a "hit job" and at times strives for fairness, it challenges Musk's public image and raises questions about his personal life and data usage.
This situation follows a similar instance where Amazon reportedly dropped a Sam Altman documentary titled 'Artificial' before its release via an independent distributor. HBO, which has also contributed to the budget of 'Musk,' is expected to be involved in its eventual streaming release, though the film may also feature Larry Ellison unfavorably, adding another layer of potential complication.