‘Succession’ Creator Tackles Tech World in New Film

Jesse Armstrong on satirizing Silicon Valley’s elite and their impact.

The mind behind “Succession,” Jesse Armstrong, is out with a new movie, “Mountainhead,” that skewers the tech industry’s high-flyers. The film takes aim at the billionaire class, a world Armstrong knows well from his hit HBO show. This latest project promises a darkly comic take on wealth, power, and the potential for AI-driven chaos.

Finding Inspiration Away from the Valley

While preparing “Mountainhead,” Armstrong opted against firsthand research in Silicon Valley. He had previously tried the approach, which involved meetings with corporate media figures in luxe New York restaurants. Armstrong found the conversations less insightful than expected. The writer-director’s preference is to remain offline to avoid “rabbit holes” and to focus on the core of his ideas.

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“It must be delightful to really believe it’s all going to be fine, that AI’s going to cure cancer.”

— Jesse Armstrong

The film’s narrative explores the intersection of AI, cryptocurrency, and libertarian politics. Data from 2024 reveals that the top 1% of the population owns nearly 40% of the world’s wealth, a concentration of power that “Mountainhead” satirizes (Source 2024).

From Westminster to the Screen

Before his success in television, Armstrong worked as an assistant to Labour MP Doug Henderson. However, he realized that he did not “get” the political game, preferring to think “like a writer.” His journey eventually led him to comedy, co-creating “Peep Show” with Sam Bain.

The film’s tone contrasts with the more measured approach Armstrong takes in person. He expresses sympathy for figures like Elon Musk, calling him a “traumatised human being.” But his perspective offers a sharp critique of the tech elite’s detachment. This movie underscores the often absurd realities of power and privilege.