A new HBO Max satire titled "The Audacity" takes aim at Silicon Valley's tech elite with the same sharp wit that made "Succession" a critical hit. Showrunner Jonathan Glatzer, a former writer on the legacy-media drama, created the series to satirize the culture of AI billionaires and tech entrepreneurs.
The show centers on Duncan Park, played by Billy Magnussen, a CEO worth roughly half a billion dollars who runs a data analytics company. Park is portrayed as obsessed with crossing the threshold into billionaire status, a goal Glatzer describes as reaching "God Mountain." The character embodies what Glatzer calls the moral bankruptcy of tech's wealthiest founders.
The tagline "Move fast and break people" riffs directly on Facebook's early motto "Move fast and break things," attributed to Mark Zuckerberg. Glatzer originally wanted an earthier tagline but the network rejected it. He suggests the saltier version might surface if the show gets renewed.
The series promises to deliver what Glatzer calls darkly comic drama focused on what he describes as Silicon Valley's "egomaniac weirdos." In interviews tied to the show's launch, the creative team discussed ayahuasca ceremonies, data harvesting practices targeting children, and physical altercations involving CEOs, signaling the satire's willingness to tackle controversial aspects of tech culture head-on.
Glatzer's background on "Succession," which became a cultural phenomenon for its brutal portrayal of power dynamics within a media empire, positions him as equipped to execute similar storytelling about tech's inner circles. The show arrives as artificial intelligence dominates headlines and tech billionaires face increasing public scrutiny over their influence and business practices.