Hollywood's Growing Obsession with Crypto: Pete Davidson Joins Bitcoin Mystery Thriller

Key Points

• Pete Davidson and Casey Affleck cast in Doug Liman’s Bitcoin-centered thriller “Killing Satoshi”
• Director Liman frames the film as a geopolitical race involving governments, financial powers, and tech giants competing for Bitcoin’s creator secrets
• Screenplay penned by Nick Schenk, collaborator with Clint Eastwood on acclaimed films
• Netflix simultaneously developing “The Altruists,” an eight-part limited series examining the FTX collapse and Sam Bankman-Fried’s downfall

The Bitcoin Thriller Taking Hollywood by Storm

Mainstream entertainment continues diving deeper into cryptocurrency narratives. The latest indicator: a star-studded production examining the enigma of Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto. Starring Pete Davidson opposite Academy Award-winning Casey Affleck, the project—titled “Killing Satoshi”—will be helmed by Doug Liman, the visionary behind “The Bourne Identity” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”

According to industry reports, the film represents a geopolitical thriller framework rather than a technical exploration. The competition centers on determining Satoshi’s identity, with wealthy nations, institutional finance, and Silicon Valley portrayed as ruthless antagonists. Nick Schenk, renowned for his collaborations with Clint Eastwood including “Gran Torino,” crafted the narrative as a high-stakes espionage drama—a “David and Goliath” conflict with antiheroes at its core.

What Pete Davidson and Casey Affleck Will Face

The exact character assignments remain under wraps, though sources suggest the pair will embody underdogs challenging some of the world’s most entrenched power structures. The storyline weaves political manipulation, surveillance tactics, and financial warfare into a race against time, with Bitcoin’s mystery serving as the ultimate prize.

This production underscores how digital assets have infiltrated premium Hollywood storytelling. No longer confined to documentaries or niche indie projects, cryptocurrency narratives now command A-list talent and major studio backing.

The Expanding Crypto Entertainment Landscape

“Killing Satoshi” shares 2024’s spotlight with other blockchain-focused content. Netflix greenlighted “The Altruists,” an eight-episode series from Higher Ground Productions (the Obamas’ production company) chronicling FTX’s implosion. The limited series stars Julia Garner as Caroline Ellison and Anthony Boyle as Sam Bankman-Fried, tracing how the exchange erased $8 billion in valuation and exposing the ambitions of its young founders.

These parallel projects suggest the entertainment industry recognizes that cryptocurrency’s cultural moment—marked by both spectacular collapses and unsolved mysteries—resonates with audiences globally. Between Pete Davidson’s involvement in the Bitcoin thriller and prestige TV examining fintech catastrophes, crypto remains central to contemporary storytelling.