The news that Darren Aronofsky, the Oscar-nominated director of Black Swan and The Whale, will helm a biopic of Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur and CEO of X Corp (formerly Twitter), has sparked a lot of curiosity and speculation among fans and critics alike. The film, which will be based on Walter Isaacson’s authorized biography of Musk, is expected to be a fascinating and controversial portrait of one of the most influential and polarizing figures of our time.
But one of the biggest questions that remains unanswered is: who will play Elon Musk on the big screen? The role of the visionary and eccentric genius, who has been described as a mix of Thomas Edison, Tony Stark, and Willy Wonka, is undoubtedly a challenging and coveted one for any actor. Here are some of the possible candidates and their chances of landing the part:
- Tom Hardy: The British actor, who has played a variety of roles ranging from Bane in The Dark Knight Rises to Eddie Brock in Venom, is no stranger to transforming himself physically and vocally for his characters. Hardy, who is 45 years old, could convincingly portray Musk’s age range, from his early days as a PayPal co-founder to his current status as the world’s richest person. Hardy also has the charisma and intensity to capture Musk’s personality and ambitions. However, Hardy might be too busy with other projects, such as the upcoming Mad Max sequel and the Netflix adaptation of The Things They Carried.
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt: The American actor, who has starred in films such as Inception, Looper, and The Trial of the Chicago 7, is known for his versatility and intelligence. Gordon-Levitt, who is 42 years old, could also portray Musk’s age range, as well as his South African accent and mannerisms. Gordon-Levitt also has experience playing real-life figures, such as Edward Snowden in Snowden and Philippe Petit in The Walk. However, Gordon-Levitt might lack the physical resemblance and the star power to play Musk, who is often compared to Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man.
- Rami Malek: The Egyptian-American actor, who won the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, is another actor who can transform himself for his roles. Malek, who is 42 years old, could bring his charisma and intensity to play Musk, as well as his ability to mimic his voice and expressions. Malek also has experience playing tech-savvy characters, such as Elliot Alderson in Mr. Robot and Safin in No Time to Die. However, Malek might face some backlash for playing a white character, as he did for playing Mercury, who was of Parsi descent.
- Dev Patel: The British-Indian actor, who has starred in films such as Slumdog Millionaire, Lion, and The Green Knight, is one of the rising stars of Hollywood. Patel, who is 32 years old, could play a younger version of Musk, as well as his South African accent and background. Patel also has the charm and the talent to play complex and nuanced characters, as he did for David Copperfield in The Personal History of David Copperfield and Arjun in Hotel Mumbai. However, Patel might also face some backlash for playing a white character, as he did for playing Copperfield, who was originally written as a white character by Charles Dickens.
These are just some of the potential actors who could play Elon Musk in the upcoming biopic by Darren Aronofsky. The film, which is still in the early stages of development, has not announced any casting details yet. But whoever gets the role, it will surely be a career-defining and challenging one.