Elon Musk documentary by Alex Gibney sparks legal threats

Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney has premiered his nearly four-hour documentary, ‘Musk’, at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film examines the life, business ventures, and political influence of Elon Musk, tracing his journey from the dot-com era to his leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, and X.

Gibney stated the film aims to prompt discussions regarding the power of ‘tech oligarchs’ and how absolute power affects character. The documentary includes interviews with figures such as Musk’s father Errol Musk, former Tesla CEO Martin Eberhard, and Ashley St. Clair. To depict Musk, who declined to be interviewed, the production utilized AI to create a digital avatar using his public statements.

Elon Musk has responded aggressively on X, criticizing the film’s integrity and calling it a ‘false film’. His attorney, Alex Spiro, has threatened a defamation lawsuit against Jigsaw Productions, specifically targeting content involving an exchange between Musk and Ashley St. Clair regarding ‘lasers in space’. In response to high interest, the theatrical release has been moved up to October 9.