Elon Musk Takes Aim at Alex Gibney’s Four-Hour Documentary

Elon Musk has threatened legal action over a nearly four-hour documentary by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, accusing the production of presenting false and potentially defamatory claims about his activities surrounding the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 8 and has drawn substantial attention for its critical examination of Musk’s business empire, political influence, and personal life. It is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on Oct. 16.

Musk did not participate in the documentary. He has repeatedly criticized the project, calling it a “hit piece” and attacking Gibney on X. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, has now formally challenged parts of the film and warned that legal action could follow.

Musk’s lawyer challenges election-related claims

Spiro’s letter, dated Sept. 3 and sent to Jigsaw Productions, focuses in particular on material involving Musk’s Starlink satellite network and the 2024 presidential election.

The dispute centers on an exchange in the documentary involving Ashley St. Clair, a former partner of Musk. According to reporting by NPR, St. Clair describes text messages from Musk before the election in which he expressed optimism about Donald Trump’s prospects and referred to an “anomaly in the matrix.”

Musk’s legal team argues that the documentary creates a false implication that Musk could have used Starlink or his technology companies to influence the election.

Spiro also argued that the filmmakers should have allowed Musk or people close to him to address the claims before the film’s release. He accused Gibney of approaching the project with a predetermined conclusion rather than conducting an open investigation.

The letter also reportedly asked that relevant documents and production materials be preserved in anticipation of possible litigation.

Gibney’s documentary takes a critical look at Musk

Musk traces the billionaire’s rise from the early internet business world through his leadership of Tesla and SpaceX, his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022 and his increasingly prominent role in U.S. politics.

The documentary also examines Musk’s relationships, his public statements about technology and his growing influence over information and political debate.

Gibney told reporters in Venice that the project expanded considerably as Musk became more involved in politics and his relationship with Donald Trump. The filmmaker said people who might have been willing to discuss Musk were sometimes reluctant to speak publicly because of his influence.

The film uses an unusual technique to represent Musk himself. Because Musk declined to participate, Gibney uses a computer-generated avatar combined with AI voice synchronization based on statements Musk has made publicly in the past. Gibney described the approach as deliberately ironic, given Musk’s longstanding interest in the idea that humanity could be living inside a simulation.

Musk attacks Gibney on X

Musk has been openly hostile toward the project since before its release.

Following the Venice premiere, he intensified his criticism of Gibney, describing the filmmaker as lacking integrity and dismissing the documentary as a boring four-hour “hit piece.”

Musk has also disputed individual claims appearing in the film, including St. Clair’s account of an alleged $40 million nondisclosure agreement. Musk said the agreement was never offered and characterized St. Clair’s claims as false, according to reporting on his posts.

Those statements represent Musk’s response to allegations and accounts presented in the documentary and should not be treated as independent confirmation of either side’s claims.

Jigsaw defends the film

Jigsaw Productions, Gibney’s production company, has rejected the suggestion that the documentary is simply a predetermined attack on Musk.

The company said that examining powerful public figures and engaging in fact-based debate are protected by the First Amendment.

Gibney has also defended the reporting behind the film. The documentary includes interviews with people from different parts of Musk’s personal and professional life, including former wife Justine Musk, St. Clair, Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard and technology journalists.

The film received a lengthy standing ovation after its Venice premiere and has generated largely positive early critical attention, adding to the dispute surrounding its release.

A wider examination of Musk’s power

The legal dispute is only one part of the attention surrounding Musk.

Gibney’s film arrives after years in which Musk has expanded his influence well beyond electric vehicles and space technology. Tesla and SpaceX remain central to his business profile, while his ownership of X and political activities have made him a major figure in debates over technology, free speech and political influence.

The documentary attempts to connect those parts of Musk’s public life rather than treating his career solely as a story about entrepreneurship and engineering.

Its use of AI-generated representation of Musk also adds another layer to a film about a technology executive whose companies are deeply involved in artificial intelligence and digital platforms.

What happens next

The immediate question is whether Musk’s legal warning will lead to an actual lawsuit or further demands concerning the documentary.

For now, the film remains scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on Oct. 16.

No court has ruled on the disputed claims, and Musk’s threat of legal action does not establish that the documentary is defamatory. Likewise, the filmmakers’ defense does not resolve the factual disputes raised by Musk’s legal team.

The dispute is likely to keep attention focused on Musk as the documentary moves from the festival circuit toward its wider theatrical release.

This story may be updated as new information becomes available.