Jesse Armstrong Wasn’t Planning to Make ‘Mountainhead’ After ‘Succession’ but “Couldn’t Stop Thinking About” Tech Bro Billionaires

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After wrapping up “Succession” two years back, its creator, Jesse Armstrong, expressed some uncertainty about pursuing his next project – a directorial debut – that revolves around the affluent once more.

Armstrong explained to The Hollywood Reporter during the Mountainhead premiere in New York City that he wasn’t exactly involved with the film immediately following his Emmy-winning series. He felt it was a change of pace, as he was interested in something that didn’t revolve around wealthy characters.

Initially, I was skeptical about the subject matter, heavily influenced by the tech-savvy billionaires portrayed in the movie. However, as I delved deeper into this realm for an article, their public discourse became a persistent melody in my mind, like an unshakable song. This intrigue sparked the idea that eventually bloomed into the making of this film.

The film, titled “Humanity Resting in Their Hands,” focuses on a circle of wealthy acquaintances who gather at a secluded mountain retreat amidst a global economic downturn. The primary characters are Randall (portrayed by Steve Carell), Jeff (Ramy Youssef), Souper (Jason Schwartzman), and Venis (Cory Michael Smith). It’s rumored, though unconfirmed, that the billionaires these characters might be modeled after include Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Marc Andreessen.

Carell shared his thoughts with reporters about finding it astonishing to step into the mindset of portraying a character who appears to have limitless resources. He explained, “When someone’s net worth ranges from $60-$200 billion, I believe that figure no longer holds significance for them. It becomes just a number – yet, at the same time, the sheer magnitude of that number carries its own weight.

He went on to describe how AI impacted his character’s standing within the group, causing him to slip down in rankings. “There’s a pecking order here, despite the fact that purchasing power doesn’t significantly differ between $60 and $200 billion,” he explained. “However, being second or possibly third out of four isn’t beneficial. It’s significant across all these characters, whether they acknowledge it or not.

Smith found the preparation process to be “rushed” due to the short timeframe from when the actors were selected to when filming started, as the script wasn’t yet finalized. He explained to THR that the method used involved spending an entire week with someone so he could rehearse lines for six to eight hours a day before heading to Utah (the filming location). This allowed him to memorize the entire script.

Smith mentioned that when it came to creating his character, he found it necessary to familiarize himself with the unique terminology and lingo used by these individuals, which is not part of his everyday vocabulary. Therefore, prior rehearsals were crucial for him to gain a high level of proficiency in this language and pace.

Although it wasn’t all about work, they ensured there was plenty of playtime as well. He mentioned that they occasionally watched John Wick movies late at night, specifically John Wick 1 and 2, with Ramy. “We were in the mood for some intensely action-packed films,” he joked.

Armstrong explained the urgency behind releasing the film promptly, stating, “The movie reflects our current reality and how rapidly technology evolves. I felt compelled to pen it down, and I want viewers to experience it within a similar timeframe as when we filmed it.

Mountainhead will premiere on HBO and begin streaming on Max on May 31.

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2025-05-25 00:54