Documentarian Alex Gibney on Musk's Silence and Concerns Over Warner Bros. Takeover
Alex Gibney said he reached out to Elon Musk after receiving a legal threat but got no response. He expressed concern that the documentary might not reach audiences because of the ongoing takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount, led by tech figures like Musk. Gibney expects the film to stream on HBO Max later this year or early next year.
Gibney’s documentary, which premiered in Venice before its Toronto screening, faces a legal challenge from Musk’s attorney over alleged misrepresentations regarding Starlink’s role in the 2024 election. The filmmaker notes that Musk’s associates, including Larry Ellison and his son David, are involved in the Paramount-led takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, which could affect HBO Max’s distribution of the film. Gibney remains confident in his fact-checking and expects the title to stream by early next year.
The nearly four-hour film examines Musk’s ventures in electric cars, space travel, social media, and AI. Gibney’s production company defended the work as fact-driven, citing First Amendment protections. Musk has publicly dismissed the documentary as a “boring hit piece,” while Gibney emphasizes that formal outreach to Musk went unanswered beyond his Twitter remarks.
This dispute highlights growing tensions between independent journalism and tech billionaires who control media platforms. If Paramount’s takeover alters HBO Max’s programming, audiences may lose access to critical portrayals of powerful figures. The outcome could influence how documentarians approach subjects with legal and financial leverage, potentially chilling investigative work. Viewers and filmmakers alike may face narrower distribution channels as media consolidation accelerates, shaping public discourse around accountability and free expression.