Sam Bankman-Fried answered actor's questions while preparing for Netflix series
Actor contacted SBF from prison ahead of Netflix debut
Netflix is preparing to release one of the first dramatized versions of the FTX saga. FTX is a cryptocurrency exchange, which is a platform where people buy and sell digital assets. The show, called The Altruists, stars Irish actor Anthony Boyle as Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO who is still in prison.
According to a report in Vanity Fair, Boyle reached out to Bankman-Fried by email while getting ready for the role. The report says Bankman-Fried, who remains incarcerated, answered most of the actor's questions before the series comes out in about three weeks.
Why Boyle reached out
Boyle told Vanity Fair he was not motivated by money, crypto, or finance. Instead, he said he wanted to understand what drives someone to become the world's youngest billionaire. He also said he promised Bankman-Fried he would not reveal anything from their conversation.
What the show is about
A Netflix trailer released on Oct. 8 suggests the series focuses on Bankman-Fried's relationship with Caroline Ellison, his colleague and girlfriend, who ran FTX's sister firm, Alameda Research. Bankman-Fried was convicted of seven felony counts involving the misuse of customer funds and received a 25-year prison sentence. Ellison was released in January after more than a year in custody, as part of a plea deal with US authorities.
Not everyone is satisfied with the portrayal
Constance Wang, the former FTX chief operating officer, said the on-screen depiction of the executives made her feel physically upset. She also argued that Bankman-Fried was more socially awkward than Boyle showed.
Context on prior coverage
Bankman-Fried has already been the subject of other media, including Michael Lewis' 2023 book Going Infinite and Ben McKenzie's documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, which featured a 2022 interview recorded before the exchange collapsed. According to the article, The Altruists appears to be the first significant dramatization of Bankman-Fried and FTX on film or television.
What is still unclear
Details about the exact exchange between Boyle and Bankman-Fried come from the Vanity Fair report cited by Cointelegraph, so the full contents of their emails are not independently confirmed here.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.
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