Netflix Drops Trailer for FTX Drama The Altruists

Netflix has released the trailer for The Altruists, its eight-episode drama on the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. A limited series means the story is designed to run for one season with a planned ending. All eight episodes arrive on Netflix on 19 Nov, according to Variety.

Anthony Boyle plays Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder at the centre of the collapse. Julia Garner plays Caroline Ellison, his former partner and business associate. The series presents them as young idealists accused of stealing $8 billion.

The real Bankman-Fried launched FTX in 2019. The platform let customers buy, sell and hold digital currencies. After FTX failed, a federal jury convicted him on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Ellison was chief executive of Alameda Research, a trading firm linked to FTX. That relationship is central to the case. It is also central to the series.

The cast widens beyond the two leads. Alex Lawther plays Sam Trabucco, Karan Soni plays Nishad Singh, Matt Rife plays Ryan Salame and Eugene Young plays Gary Wang. Netflix’s official page also lists Naomi Okada and Madison Hu among the cast, according to Netflix.

The Altruists is inspired by New York Magazine articles by Kevin T. Dugan and Jen Wieczner. Executive producers include Graham Moore and Jacqueline Hoyt, alongside Barack and Michelle Obama, Jessie Dicovitsky and Vinnie Malhotra for Higher Ground Productions, and Scoop Wasserstein for New York Magazine/Vox Media Studios.

Netflix describes the show as “a toxic love story inspired by a real fraud.” First-look photos were released in August ahead of the trailer.

For viewers, this means a short wait. The full story lands in one drop in November.