Universal Leans Towards Releasing Gibney's Musk Film After All

Universal Pictures is now leaning towards releasing Alex Gibney’s Musk documentary after all, The Hollywood Reporter reported on 17 September 2026. Executives are discussing internally how to handle the film, sources told the trade publication. That plan had wobbled.

Universal had stayed publicly and privately silent about its intentions. Then THR reported the studio was backing away from releasing the film outside North America. That report drew criticism aimed at Universal and triggered a run of internal meetings at the Comcast-owned studio, THR reported.

What happens next is still in flux. Some insiders believed Universal would relinquish the film and return rights to its producers, per THR. One studio insider now believes talks have moved far enough for Universal to keep it and proceed with its distribution plan. Universal declined to comment to THR.

Money is part of the calculation. If Universal walked away it would owe the film-makers a kill fee, a payment due when a distributor exits a deal, according to a source familiar with the deal structure cited by THR. Gibney’s team would then shop the project to find a new distribution partner, per THR.

The film itself is long and already public. It world premiered at the Venice Film Festival in Italy. It runs 3 hours and 45 minutes, Deadline reported. It examines Musk’s rise to power, his controversies and potential risks to democracy, in THR’s earlier description. It received a five-minute standing ovation in Venice, THR reported. Gibney has said potential interviewees showed “almost existential fear” about speaking on the record about Musk.

Rights are split by market and by platform. Bleecker Street holds North American rights. It has set a release in theatres on 9 October, Deadline reported. HBO acquired North American TV and streaming rights in 2023 and plans a release in the first quarter of next year, THR reported. Universal currently holds overseas theatrical rights, meaning cinemas outside North America.

Musk has pushed back hard. He has called the film a “hit piece” and “boring”. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, sent a letter to Gibney’s production company putting the film on “formal legal notice”, a written warning of possible legal action. Gibney said he had still not heard directly from Musk after the public criticism and threatened legal action, Rolling Stone reported on 14 September. Musk also issued an angry tirade against Gibney over the four-hour film, The Guardian reported.

For viewers, this means the path to screens is clearer in the United States than abroad. The domestic cinema date is fixed. The overseas cinema plan rests with Universal. That decision is now back in the room.