When we first heard word that Jesse Armstrong (SUCCESSION) was working on an HBO Films presentation we didn’t know much about it, not even its title. Nor did we expect how close it was to being complete. Now, via press release we have that title and a premiere date in May. Though it still offers scant information there is more here than what we had before. Here are the details.
The HBO Original film MOUNTAINHEAD, written, directed, and executive produced by seven-time Emmy winner and Oscar-nominated Jesse Armstrong (HBO’s “Succession”), debuts SATURDAY, MAY 31 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. The film finished production this early April in Park City, Utah and marks Armstrong’s feature directorial debut. Logline: A group of billionaire friends get together against the backdrop of a rolling international crisis.
If I didn’t know better, this almost sounds like a documentary about current conditions. Well, if we have to have a crisis, it is alright to have one mastered by Armstrong, right? The press release also reminds us who the billionaires are played by. They are Steve Carell as Randall, Jason Schwartzman as Souper (Hugo Van Yalk), Cory Michael Smith as Venis, and Ramy Youssef as Jeff. Additional supporting cast includes Hadley Robinson as Hester, Andy Daly as Casper, Ali Kinkade as Berry, Daniel Oreskes as Dr. Phipps, David Thompson as Leo, Amie MacKenzie as Janine and Ava Kostia as Paula.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a trailer yet. It is not until we see that footage that we will be able to deduce what the big crisis is that forces these guys to become an isolated think tank. Can they solve the crisis at hand that will prevent a crashing recession or depression? And, while we’re at it, just how topical and timely will this situation be to the current condition in the good old USA? Is Jesse Armstrong making a cinematic political statement here or perhaps offering a cautionary tale to us all? Again, the trailer will help define some of that, but better still, shortly after Memorial Day 2025, we will be able to view MOUNTAINHEAD and have those answers. It seems intriguing, so set a reminder.
Credits: The HBO Original film is written and directed by Jesse Armstrong; executive produced by Jesse Armstrong, Frank Rich, Lucy Prebble, Jon Brown, Tony Roche, Will Tracy, Mark Mylod, and Jill Footlick.
