Jesse Armstrong’s ‘Mountainhead’ Explores Dark Side of Tech Billionaires

Park City, Utah — Writer and director Jesse Armstrong, known for HBO‘s acclaimed series Succession, has launched his latest project, Mountainhead. The film, premiering on HBO and Max on May 31, delves into the lives of four tech billionaires at a mountain retreat amid global chaos.

Mountainhead focuses on an escalating crisis triggered by a social networking app owned by one of the characters, Venis, played by Cory Michael Smith. During their poker weekend, the moguls confront news reports of societal breakdown due to misinformation spread through deep-fake videos. Armstrong explores the question of how these wealthy leaders respond to the catastrophe while enjoying their privilege. Jeff, portrayed by Ramy Youssef, develops an AI solution but hesitates to share it with Venis.

The patriarch of the group, Randall, played by Steve Carell, drives increasing tensions as they consider exploiting the chaos for financial gain. Armstrong identifies a spectrum of behaviors among his four central characters, from confidence to arrogance.

“These tech leaders operate on a frontier that shapes our world,” Armstrong stated. “I wanted to capture that sense of urgency.”

The film’s rapid production started with a pitch to HBO chief Casey Bloys and resulted in filming taking place over six months in Park City. Casting was completed quickly, with actors eager to join the project due to Armstrong’s established reputation.

“It was lightning in a bottle,” said executive producer Frank Rich. “But setting a fast pace was necessary to address timely themes.”

Mountainhead challenges viewers to confront the dynamics of wealth, responsibility, and the influence of technology in society. Armstrong believes even those who enjoy the film may find it provocative.