Summary
The biopic may be the most overrated genre in contemporary cinema. Hard to believe? Just ask Christopher Nolan.In a recent interview with Varietyabout his own “biopic"Oppenheimer, the renowned filmmaker stated that it is “not a useful genre” and “one that fails you completely” due to its reductive nature. Nevertheless, biopics continue to be produced at an exponential rate by big studios and indie companies alike, with one of the latest being an Elon Musk biopic from A24 that will be directed by the polarizing Darren Aronofsky, matching the reputation of his subject.
Since his 1998 debutPi, Aronofsky has aimed to shock audiences with his recurring themes of psychological decay and religious influence. At times, his films are made with subtlety and restraint, like in 2008’sThe Wrestleror 2010’sBlack Swan,which earned him an Academy Award nominationfor Best Director and led Natalie Portman to her first win for Best Actress. At others, he bombards his audience with his narrative elements, like in 2017’sMother!or last year’sThe Whale. This lack of self-control and propensity for aggression ostensibly makes him the perfect choice to take on the story of Musk.
What Source Material is the Elon Musk Biopic Based On?
Walter Isaacson’s authorized biography of the controversial figure (simply titledElon Musk) will serve as the basis for the screenplay, which does not yet have a writer attached. Rather than focusing on his accomplishments, the narrative takes a more character-driven approach by focusing on the billionaire entrepreneur’s childhood, his relationships with former wives and girlfriends, and his children. Isaacson further described his work in aVanity Fair interviewupon the book’s publication earlier this year:
“My mission was to serve the reader, not to serve Musk, not to serve the enemies, not to serve the fans, but to try to be as honest as I could. The way I did it is, the book is driven by stories. I describe a scene and exactly who said what. "
A24 optioned the rights to Isaacson’s book after a heated competition with other studios and chose to reunite with Aronofsky after last year’sThe Whalebecame a surprise box office success andwon Brendan Fraser the Academy Award for Best Actor. This film will certainly be a more high-profile project given what it is about and who will ultimately portray the man at the center of it.
The Names That Could Be Considered to Play Elon Musk
As one would expect, the casting process for the role of Musk will be a laborious one, similar to that of 2015’sSteve Jobswhose screenplay was also based on Isaacson’s biography of the Apple co-founder. Before Michael Fassbender landed the daunting part, it was floated around to the likes of Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, and others. There is currently no word on whom A24/Aronofsky are considering but it is more than likely that it will be an A-list name or at the very least someone with aniconic presence ala Nicolas Cageor Robert Downey Jr., who partly based the character of Tony Stark on Musk himself.
Subreddits have been debating on this topic long before this specific project was announced, with the top choices including the aforementioned leading men as well as Rami Malek and Jesse Eisenberg, the latter likely being a sardonic joke as he famously played Musk’s rival Mark Zuckerberg in 2010’sThe Social Network. In terms of finding someone with a proper physical likeness, the most popular name wasKevin Durand from TV’sThe Strain, going in the opposite direction of casting a big star which could lend to making the portrayal less distracting. Hopefully, there will be a definitive answer in the coming months as pre-production ramps up with Hollywood now past its union strikes.
Understanding Darren Aronofsky’s Filmography
If there were ever a filmmaker whose name matched their style, it would be Darren Aronofsky; an unorthodox moniker that exudes an heir of bold, some might say pretentious, artistry.Other than 2014’sNoah, Aronofsky typically operates in the arthouse genre and fancies himself as a modern Federico Fellini, blending fantasy elements with that of reality. While he certainly has his intentions in the right place, his execution is often heavy-handed as he tends to place his themes at surface level rather than trusting his audience to discover them in the text. The worst example of this isMother!, a cautionary biblical tale that is hampered by its obvious metaphors and gratuitous shock value.
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Requiem for a Dream(2000)
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The Whale(2022)
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Aronofsky shines best when he focuses on character over conceit, like inThe Wrestlerwhere he allows Mickey Rourke to give a breathtaking performance without letting his style get in the way.The Whalewas another great opportunity for him to replicate that kind of success, yet he unfortunately veered back to his eye-rolling parables and over-the-top tragedies. Perhaps this style would actually suit a film about Elon Musk, but it would be much more appealing if Aronofsky were to revisit the understated approach that he has proven he can excel with.
