Jesse Armstrong, the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning creator of Succession, dives into the chaos of wealth and technology in his latest HBO film, Mountainhead. He discusses how tech billionaires navigate ambition and ethics during a disastrous poker retreat, highlighting deepfake horrors and their real-world implications. Armstrong critiques the tech oligarchy's influence over society, comparing them to legacy media moguls like Rupert Murdoch. He also delves into the societal impact of AI on creativity and the complex dynamics of male friendships within the cutthroat tech industry.
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insights INSIGHT
Antiseptic Isolation Reflects Detachment
"Mountainhead" uses a confined, single-location setup similar to a play to intensify dramatic tension.
The isolated, antiseptic setting mirrors the emotional and social detachment of the tech billionaires.
insights INSIGHT
Tech Characters Mirror Real Figures
Characters in "Mountainhead" are composites of real Silicon Valley tech archetypes.
The film draws on traits from Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and others.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Sergey Brin's Baby Potty Training
Kara Swisher once saw Sergey Brin awkwardly try to potty train a baby at her home.
The incident highlighted the tech elites' unfamiliarity with common human tasks.
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Published in 1943, 'The Fountainhead' by Ayn Rand tells the story of Howard Roark, a young and innovative architect who refuses to compromise his artistic vision despite the opposition from society. The novel explores themes of individualism, egoism, and the conflict between those who think for themselves (the 'first-handers') and those who follow the opinions of others (the 'second-handers'). It also delves into the lives of other characters such as Dominique Francon, Peter Keating, Ellsworth Toohey, and Gail Wynand, each representing different aspects of Rand's philosophical ideas. The book is a defense of egoism and individualism, presenting a radical rethinking of basic moral concepts and challenging conventional notions of selfishness and altruism[2][3][5].
From media moguls to tech billionaires, Oscar-nominated and Emmy award-winning writer, producer and director Jesse Armstrong knows how to tap into the psyche of the rich and powerful. In the “Succession” creator’s new HBO movie, “Mountainhead,” a tech-bro poker weekend turns into a life-or-death battle over who will control the future — in both business and the real world.
From their isolated lair in Utah, four millionaire/billionaire friends (played by Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef) watch as deepfakes created on one of their platforms lead to massacres, assassinations, and government takeovers around the world. This sparks the friends’ imperialistic fantasies and some unfriendly inter-group competition.
Kara talks to writer-director Jesse Armstrong about the real-world inspirations for these characters, how tech founders think about their own role in society, and whether the tech oligarchy has replaced legacy media giants like Rupert Murdoch.
Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher.
On with Kara Swisher 
