Nikolas Sargeant
Doug Liman, the acclaimed director behind "The Bourne Identity" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," is set to helm "Killing Satoshi," a conspiracy thriller centered on Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, with Pete Davidson and Casey Affleck starring in lead roles. The project was originally developed by Kavanaugh and is being fully financed through his production company Proxima in conjunction with Aperture Media Partners.
The film will delve into the power struggles surrounding Bitcoin and explore the mystery of the cryptocurrency's enigmatic creator. The story centers on the shadowy group who want to keep the real identity of Satoshi Nakamoto a secret, as the pseudonymous figure serves as cover for the real person or persons behind the digital currency. Nakamoto is believed to have mined about one million Bitcoin, a stash now totaling over $60 billion, making the mystery of who holds the keys to that fortune all the more compelling. The film's themes resonate with recent real-world events, as Bitcoin developers have faced harassment after being falsely identified as Satoshi Nakamoto.
"I love David and Goliath stories. 'Killing Satoshi' follows unlikely antiheroes taking on the most powerful people on the planet in an epic battle that strikes at the core of what money is and who controls it," Liman said. Casey Affleck, known for his depth in "Manchester by the Sea," will play a lead role, while Pete Davidson also joins the cast. The specific roles for both actors remain under wraps, but the plot will deal with Nakamoto's secret identity and a shadowy group of elites.
Filming is set to begin in October in London, with an expected 2026 release. The screenplay is written by Nick Schenk, and the thriller promises to explore the high-stakes world of power, espionage, and global intrigue surrounding the $120 billion mystery of Nakamoto's dormant Bitcoin holdings. The film represents Hollywood's latest attempt to tackle cryptocurrency's biggest unsolved mystery, transforming the digital currency phenomenon into a high-octane thriller for the big screen.
