Gibney: Universal 'Wavered' on Musk Doc Over Legal Threats — SkimNews
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- Alex Gibney confirmed Universal "wavered" on international release plans for his four-hour Elon Musk documentary, telling the New York Times "Yes" when asked directly, appearing to back a Hollywood Reporter story that the studio had acquired international rights in 2023 but gotten "cold feet."
- Universal was concerned about "legal threats from Musk" according to Variety, but the studio told outlets it has "always been enthusiastic about releasing the film internationally" and "always been committed" to it.
- Gibney said he and Universal had "just had a meeting" and were "talking very concretely about a release plan," suggesting the international rollout is back on track.
- Elon Musk refused interview requests — posted by producer Jessie Deeter, who knew him from two prior films — by calling Gibney "a douche" on X, then called the documentary a "hit piece that misses" and threatened legal action after its Venice premiere.
- The film is being released in North America by independent distributor Bleecker Street, with Universal holding only international rights.
Why it matters: The standoff reveals how a subject's legal pressure can chill distribution decisions at a major studio, even before any lawsuit is filed — Universal's public denial of cold feet but private admission of legal-threat concerns shows a quiet cost of Musk's intimidation playbook. For audiences outside North America, the four-hour documentary's availability now hinges on whether Universal holds firm.
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