A limited series about Elon Musk‘s SpaceX is no longer moving forward at HBO.
On Wednesday, author Ashlee Vance announced that the limited series adaptation of his 2017 book Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future “has died” at the network, but he’s hoping to find the project another home.
“Well, it’s super sad, but this long-running project with HBO has died,” he announced on the Musk-owned X platform. “We were going to make a dramatized series about the early days of @elonmusk and @SpaceX. Had some wonderful scripts. They were smart and funny and true to life. I imagine it would have been a massive hit.”
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Vance continued, “Hollywood is hard. And HBO went through too many gyrations for this one to keep the requisite energy. People also seem afraid to make something about Elon. As a result, the IP rights on my biography have reverted to me. If there are serious offers out there to make something amazing, my mind and inbox are open.”
A rep for HBO declined comment.
The limited series about Musk’s private space travel company was revealed as being in development at HBO in October 2020, with Channing Tatum’s Free Association attached to produce.
According to sources, the project was passed on by HBO years ago. The reason behind the timing of Vance’s post is unclear.
Well, it’s super sad, but this long-running project with HBO has died. We were going to make a dramatized series about the early days of @elonmusk and @SpaceX. Had some wonderful scripts. They were smart and funny and true to life. I imagine it would have been a massive hit.… pic.twitter.com/FHvEy9wQSE
— Ashlee Vance (@ashleevance) December 3, 2025
Penned by Doug Jung, the series was to follow Musk as he handpicks a team of engineers to work on a remote Pacific Island where they build, and launch, the first manned SpaceX rocket into orbit — the Falcon 9 — on May 30, 2020.
Since 2020, Musk’s legacy has grown to include campaigning for President Donald Trump and his short-lived role as head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.