Musk Doc Controversy: Universal Defies Legal Threats for Overseas Release of Alex Gibney Film
Universal is moving forward with the international release of Alex Gibney's nearly four-hour documentary "Musk," despite Elon Musk's strong objections and legal threats. The film, which features controversial content and has been called a "hit piece" by Musk, is set to debut in North American theaters on October 9 before streaming on HBO in 2027.
Universal Pictures is proceeding with the international release of Alex Gibney's highly anticipated Elon Musk documentary, titled "Musk," despite recent legal threats from the tech mogul. Sources familiar with the project confirmed to Variety that while an overseas release date is not yet set, this is standard practice for a lengthy documentary like "Musk," which spans nearly four hours. The film is slated for a North American theatrical debut on October 9, distributed by indie company Bleecker Street, and will later stream on HBO in the first quarter of 2027.
Elon Musk himself has been vocal about the documentary's content, taking to X (formerly Twitter) after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival to denounce it as "a hit piece." He claimed that Gibney had merely assembled a "hit list of people who either have an axe to grind or don’t even know me (but still have an axe to grind)," though it remains unclear if Musk had actually viewed the film before commenting.
Among the notable interviews featured in Gibney’s film is one with Ashley St. Clair, a MAGA influencer who shares a child with Musk. The documentary includes a text exchange between Musk and St. Clair regarding the 2024 presidential election. This particular segment became a point of contention, with Musk’s attorney, Alex Spiro, threatening to file a defamation lawsuit prior to the film's October release, citing these texts.
The documentary has already garnered critical attention. Owen Gleiberman, a Variety critic, remarked in his Venice review that the film reveals Musk as a "creator of mirages who promises more than he delivers." Gleiberman further described Musk, as portrayed in the documentary, as "a genuine if flawed technocratic visionary, a messianic opportunist, and something of a crackpot." Both Universal and Alex Gibney have declined to comment on the matter.