Alex Gibney says Universal ‘wavered’ over releasing Elon Musk documentary

Alex Gibney, director of the new four-hour documentary about Elon Musk, said that Universal, owners of the film’s international distribution rights “wavered” over releasing the film outside North America.

Gibney was speaking to the New York Times as the film opened in the US (where it is being released by the independent distributor Bleecker Street), and appeared to confirm a story in the Hollywood Reporter that Universal, which had acquired the international rights to the film in 2023, had got cold feet. Asked by the New York Times, “Did Universal Pictures waver in setting up its international release plans?” Gibney replied: “Yes.”

A subsequent story in Variety suggested that Universal had been concerned about “legal threats from Musk”, but that the studio had “always been enthusiastic about releasing the film internationally”. Gibney was asked: “So it wasn’t about legal clearances?” The film-maker replied: “You can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

However, it appears plans are back on track, as Gibney added: “We just had a meeting with [Universal], and we’re talking very concretely about a release plan.”

Gibney also said his producer Jessie Deeter, who knew Musk from two previous films, had attempted on several occasions to ask Musk to be interviewed for the film. Musk’s response was to post “Gibney is a douche” on X, the social media platform owned by Musk-founded company SpaceXAI.

In the wake of the film’s premiere at the Venice film festival, Musk posted a string of criticisms of the film and insults aimed at Gibney, including calling the film a “hit piece that misses” and threatening legal action.

Universal declined to comment further, pointing to its previous statement: “We’ve always been committed to releasing this film, and our plans haven’t changed.”