Hollywood Embraces Crypto: Pete Davidson Joins Major Bitcoin Origin Story Film

A-List Cast Takes On Bitcoin’s Greatest Mystery

The entertainment industry continues its pivot toward cryptocurrency narratives. Pete Davidson, the SNL veteran turned actor, has joined forces with Oscar-winning Casey Affleck for a high-stakes production exploring Bitcoin’s elusive creator identity. The project, tentatively titled “Killing Satoshi,” represents the latest convergence of crypto culture and mainstream filmmaking.

Behind the Camera: Director and Screenplay Credentials

Doug Liman, the architect behind iconic spy thrillers “The Bourne Identity” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” will helm the film. The screenplay comes from Nick Schenk, whose credits span collaborations with Clint Eastwood on critically acclaimed works like “Gran Torino” and “The Mule.”

Liman has framed the narrative as a modern “David and Goliath” confrontation. The story weaves together espionage, political maneuvering, and protagonists positioned as outsiders challenging entrenched global power structures. Within this framework, the hunt for Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity becomes a window into conflicts over financial sovereignty and institutional control.

The Plot: A Global Race for Control

“Killing Satoshi” presents a fictional yet compelling what-if scenario. The film depicts governments, banks, and tech titans locked in competition—each pursuing their own agenda regarding Bitcoin’s mysterious origins. Rather than a straightforward biography, the thriller transforms the Satoshi question into a geopolitical chess match where the stakes extend far beyond cryptocurrency itself.

The narrative positions unlikely heroes against some of the world’s most formidable institutions, raising questions about power, secrecy, and the nature of monetary systems. While specific character details remain under wraps, the casting of Pete Davidson and Casey Affleck suggests roles that blend vulnerability with resilience.

Why Hollywood Is Betting on Crypto Stories

The announcement underscores a broader cultural shift. Bitcoin and blockchain technology have transitioned from niche technical topics to source material for premium entertainment. Satoshi Nakamoto’s pseudonymous status provides natural dramatic tension—a real-world mystery ripe for cinematic interpretation.

The involvement of established talent like Pete Davidson and Casey Affleck signals that crypto narratives are no longer considered fringe content. Studios increasingly recognize that audiences crave stories exploring technology’s intersection with power, identity, and global economics.

The Broader Crypto Entertainment Landscape

“Killing Satoshi” is one of several major productions capitalizing on cryptocurrency’s cultural penetration. Netflix is simultaneously developing “The Altruists,” an eight-part limited series chronicling the FTX collapse. Produced through Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, the series casts Julia Garner and Anthony Boyle as key figures in the exchange’s implosion.

The FTX project dramatizes how a $32 billion valuation evaporated in days, following the revelation of mismanaged customer funds and fraudulent practices by founder Sam Bankman-Fried. Where “Killing Satoshi” explores Bitcoin’s origins through a geopolitical lens, “The Altruists” examines how ambition and oversight failures destabilized a major crypto exchange.

The Takeaway

As both projects move forward, they reflect Hollywood’s recognition that cryptocurrency and blockchain technology have become central narratives in contemporary culture. Whether exploring Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator or the downfall of a crypto empire, these productions transform industry history into dramatic storytelling. Pete Davidson’s involvement in “Killing Satoshi” further legitimizes crypto-themed content as viable entertainment for mainstream audiences.