A24 & Apple to Produce Sam Bankman-Fried Film Written by Lena Dunham

A24 & Apple to Produce Sam Bankman-Fried Film Written by Lena Dunham

As a seasoned cinephile with a soft spot for tales of ambition, downfall, and the human spirit, I am thrilled about the upcoming film adaptation of Michael Lewis’s “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon.” Lena Dunham, a master storyteller with an impeccable knack for capturing the complexities of modern life, has been entrusted with bringing this intriguing narrative to the silver screen.


Remember crypto? Well, A24 and Apple Studios are joining forces to bring audiences the not-so-forgotten story of infamous crypto-bro and criminal, Samuel Benjamin Bankman-Fried, or SBF for short. Born in 1992, SBF is an American entrepreneur who started FTX, or Future Exchange, Trading Ltd. in 2019, which went on to quickly become the third-largest digital currency exchange, once valued at $32 billion. However, as detailed in author Michael Lewis’s New York Times bestseller Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon, SBF was and always had been a fraud in his cryptocurrency endeavors. Lewis chronicles the personal story of the unlikely entrepreneur who left the former cryptocurrency exchange and hedge fund company in bankruptcy after an $8 billion-sized hole was found in FTX’s accounts.

As reported by Variety, the highly successful novel of 2023 by Lewis is being transformed into a movie by collaborative studios Apple Studios and A24. Lena Dunham has been tapped for scriptwriting duties, depicting the extraordinary rise and subsequent collapse of FTX, as well as its founder. While Apple and A24 are in the preliminary stages of this film adaptation, Lena Dunham continues to work on various projects, including her upcoming Netflix romantic comedy series co-created with husband Luis Felber, featuring Megan Stalter from Hacks.

Lena Dunham, who is behind the scenes as the writer, actress, producer, and director of the widely praised HBO show “Girls”, has a long history in filmmaking. From 2012 to 2017, “Girls” aired for six seasons, garnering Dunham eight Emmy Award nominations and a Golden Globe for her contributions. Beyond “Girls”, she has been involved with shows like “Camping” and “Generation”, and helmed the pilot episode for the HBO series “Industry”.

Although Dunham has stepped away from the Polly Pocket movie, its creator is quite familiar with filmmaking, having collaborated on and directed the 2022 feature Catherine Called Birdy, featuring Bella Ramsey. This TV showrunner also helmed Sharp Stick, where they both wrote, directed, and portrayed Heather in the film.

Crypto-Bros Are a Content Gold Mine

On October 3, 2023, Lewis released his book titled Going Infinite, a date that also marked the commencement of SBF’s trial. During this trial, SBF faced charges for seven counts of fraud and money laundering. The timing of the release, which coincided with such an intriguing story about an ordinary individual amassing billions almost overnight, generated significant interest in the book. In November 2023, SBF was found guilty of these crimes, further increasing attention on Lewis’s work.

Here’s a captivating overview of “Going Infinite” that doesn’t forcefully persuade, but rather lets the extraordinary true tale speak for itself:

In “Going Infinite,” renowned author Michael Lewis delves into the life of Sam Bankman-Fried, an unexpected billionaire in the world of cryptocurrency who shot to fame seemingly overnight. As global leaders, CEOs, and celebrities clamored for his attention and resources, one might have wondered about the laidback individual in casual attire, multitasking between video games and virtual meetings across Zoom. Lewis aims to uncover the enigma that is Bankman-Fried, exploring his thoughts and actions that led him to unprecedented heights and eventual downfall. This captivating narrative offers valuable insights into high-frequency trading, digital currencies, philanthropy, bankruptcy, and the legal system. “Going Infinite” showcases Michael Lewis at the pinnacle of his storytelling prowess, expertly chronicling the astonishing journey of a rule-averse character who lived life on his own terms―until it all fell apart.

As a follower, I am eagerly anticipating that Lena Dunham will draw inspiration from Lewis’s acclaimed book to craft a film that surpasses the success of FTX. Even before Lewis penned the book, Apple had already secured the screen rights for an impressive $5 million, reflecting the producers’ faith in this project. Therefore, I am excitedly looking forward to the cinematic retelling of these recent events.

Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon
can be found on Amazon Prime.

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2024-11-13 18:31