Back in 2023, it was announced that Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”) was teaming up with A24 and set to direct a biopic based on the life of tech mogul, SpaceX CEO, and X owner Elon Musk.
Aronofsky will base his film on Walter Isaacson‘s biography of Musk which I recently read and was utterly absorbed by. Given I had just read the book, I decided to ask around about the status of Aronofsky’s film. It seems as though the film is potentially happening.
One source tells me that the aim is for a fall shoot, “right after Darren is done promo for “Caught Stealing.” Another person, this one very close to the project, claimed that the project shooting this fall was a “maybe,” and that it was “still in development.”
Aronofsky previously partnered with A24 on “The Whale,” which won Brendan Fraser the Oscar. In late 2023, the rights for Isaacson’s book caused a highly competitive bidding war, with top studios and filmmakers in the running, before A24 finally wound snatching it up for a cool eight-figure sum.
“Elon” is said to explore the 52-year-old Musk’s upbringing in South Africa by a “charismatic fantasist” engineer father, Errol Musk, and dietician mother, Maye Musk, well up to his ascent as CEO of Space X, and Tesla.
Although no actors have yet to be officially attached to Aronofsky’s “Elon,” one actor in particular has been endlessly fancast to take on the lead role — the resemblance, as can be seen above, is uncanny,
During press for “Abigail,” io9 sat down with actor Kevin Durand to ask if he’d been approached yet about the film, “Has anyone approached me? I mean, everyone on the street, people ask me all the time.” he said, “I mean, I’m reaching out to one of my favorite directors in the world, Darren Aronofsky. I’m ready for you Darren. Because, Elon looks like he’s my brother. My parents are like, ‘Oh, my God, this is like your long lost brother.’ And my forte as an actor is is becoming different humans, you know? So I’m ready.”
Now, given how Musk’s life has very much changed since Isaacson’s book was released, especially with his latest stint heading DOGE for the White House. Musk has turned into one of the most polarizing figures of the 21st century. If this project does indeed happen then Aronofsky will no doubt have to contend with the fact that not all parties will be pleased by this film.
Criterion's December lineup has some great additions to the library, but the title that jumped out at me is Werner Herzog's "Grizzly Man," which officially joins the Collection on December 8.