Documentary on Elon Musk by Alex Gibney Set for Fall Premiere

Filmmaker Alex Gibney is completing a documentary that scrutinises Elon Musk’s business ventures and political connections. The film, which has been edited down to a three-hour-forty-five-minute cut, will debut at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 8, followed by a theatrical rollout in October and an HBO broadcast slated for 2027.

Gibney, known for investigative documentaries on subjects such as Enron and the CIA, says the project aims to reveal how Musk has accumulated influence across technology, space, and media. The film alleges that Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, Starlink and the DOGE-related venture, have been used to gather extensive data on U.S. citizens and to shape political outcomes. It features interviews with former insiders, journalists and experts who discuss Musk’s alleged involvement in election-related activities and his ties to President Donald Trump.

"It’s rare these days to see a complete story instead of the fragments we’re used to," said Nick Shumaker, a producer on the film.

The documentary also addresses accusations that Musk has pressured regulators, engaged in aggressive personnel practices and promoted speculative technologies. It includes dramatized sequences, such as a video-game style avatar of Musk, to illustrate the director’s view of Musk’s self-portrayal.

Production partners include Anonymous Content, Double Agent and Universal for international distribution, while HBO will handle U.S. streaming rights. The film’s financing and distribution have drawn attention because of Musk’s known opposition to the project, which he has dismissed as a “hit piece.”

Gibney says the documentary is intended to prompt public discussion about the concentration of power in the hands of a single, unelected individual and its implications for democratic institutions.