Apple has reportedly secured the rights to Michael Lewis's forthcoming book, "Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon," in a deal valued at $5 million. The book is centered around the story of Sam "SBF" Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, and is set to be released on October 3, coinciding with the commencement of SBF's New York trial. Lewis unveiled the planned October launch date during a presentation at the Bitcoin 2023 conference in Miami, with the aim of initiating FTX's former CEO's criminal trial.
Alongside the book, there are reports that director Nanette Burstein is in the process of creating a documentary. This documentary will focus on the life of computer programmer and cryptocurrency advocate John McAfee, who passed away in prison in 2021, as well as former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Given the high-profile nature of the case and SBF's unique fashion style and distinctive appearance, it's expected that Bankman-Fried will become the subject of various documentaries, both during and after the criminal trial.
However, the outcome of such films remains uncertain due to ongoing strikes by organizations like the Writers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. These unions have called upon the Film and TV Producers Union to address issues related to streaming's legacy and the future use of artificial intelligence in the industry.
SBF's story has been in the headlines for a long time, well before the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange and his subsequent arrest in the Bahamas. Once regarded as a rising star, the former CEO managed billions of dollars in assets at Alameda Research and FTX . Despite this, he has maintained a low-key public presence, often appearing in T-shirts, shorts, and sneakers. However, he did adopt a more formal appearance, including a suit and tie, during his court appearances before his bail was revoked.
Numerous documentaries have explored notable figures and events in the cryptocurrency space, including Netflix's "Trust No One: In Search of the Crypto King," which delves into the story of QuadrigaCX founder Gerald Cotten. Another documentary explores the personal journey of Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong. Before the writers' strike, there were reports of a film in development that focused on the relationship between Bankman-Fried and Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.
