It’s official: the highly anticipated Elon Musk/SpaceX biographical series at HBO is no more. But here’s where it gets controversial—is it because of Musk’s recent, let’s say, unconventional public persona, or was it simply a matter of timing? Ashlee Vance, the author behind the SpaceX-centric biography Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, And The Quest For A Fantastic Future, took to social media this week to announce that the project has formally ‘died’ at the network. This comes as a surprise, especially since the series was first announced in 2020, back when Musk’s ambitions seemed more about space exploration and less about, well, Twitter. Remember that era? It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it? And this is the part most people miss—HBO likely greenlit the project when Musk’s image was that of a visionary, not the meme-turned-policy-maker we see today.
Vance didn’t hold back in his post on X (formerly Twitter), claiming the scripts were ‘smart, funny, and true to life,’ and that the series ‘would have been a massive hit.’ He even hinted at a broader industry hesitation, suggesting studios might now be wary of tackling a Musk-centric project. The rights to his book have reverted to him, leaving the door open for any brave network willing to take on the challenge. But here’s the real question—is Vance’s timing coincidental, or is he subtly calling out HBO’s decision to pass on the project years ago? After all, Deadline reports that the network moved on from the idea long before Vance’s public announcement. Why bring it up now?
What’s fascinating is how Musk’s evolution as a public figure has seemingly shifted the narrative. In 2020, a series about his life might have been a straightforward tale of innovation and ambition. Today, it would inevitably wade into murkier waters. Is this a missed opportunity, or a smart dodge by HBO? Vance, meanwhile, isn’t slowing down—he’s already working on projects about brain-computer interfaces and OpenAI. Clearly, the man has a type. But the bigger question remains: would a Musk biopic today be a hit, or a headache? Let’s debate it—what do you think?
