Hollywood's Bitcoin Mystery Thriller: 'Killing Satoshi' Brings Crypto's Biggest Enigma to the Big Screen

The crypto world is getting its Hollywood moment. A major feature film titled “Killing Satoshi” is currently in development, set to crack open one of cryptocurrency’s greatest unsolved mysteries—the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator.

Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team Take On Satoshi’s Story

The conspiracy thriller will bring together Oscar-winning actor Casey Affleck and comedian Pete Davidson in leading roles, with acclaimed director Doug Liman—best known for helming “The Bourne Identity,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” and “Swingers”—at the helm. According to reports from Variety, Liman’s track record with high-octane narratives positions him perfectly to tackle this audacious project.

The screenplay comes from Nick Schenk, who previously collaborated with legendary filmmaker Clint Eastwood on “Gran Torino” and “The Mule.” Schenk’s script frames the narrative around an elite group attempting to conceal the truth about Bitcoin’s origins and its creator.

The Story Behind the Story

Liman expressed his enthusiasm for the project to Variety: “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 is money and who controls it.”

This framing resonates deeply with the crypto ethos—at its core, Bitcoin represents a decentralized challenge to traditional financial control, a narrative perfectly suited for Hollywood dramatization. The comparison to token-based funding models and Hollywood token initiatives underscores how cryptocurrency is increasingly intersecting with entertainment industry finance.

Production and Release Timeline

The film is being produced by Ryan Kavanaugh, former CEO of Relativity Media, who previously financed major hits like “The Social Network” and “The Fighter.” Kavanaugh is collaborating with producers Lawrence Grey and Shane Valdez. Notably, Kavanaugh once envisioned integrating cryptocurrency into film financing through blockchain-based projects.

“This is not just a movie about Bitcoin and its elusive and mysterious origins, but really about what it stands for,” Kavanaugh told Variety. “We look at this film much the same way as we did with ‘Social Network’ and its examination of Facebook.”

Production is scheduled to begin in October in London, with theatrical release expected in 2026.

The Satoshi Mystery That Inspired It All

The film’s premise hinges on one of cryptocurrency’s enduring puzzles: Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin in 2009 before mysteriously disappearing from public view in 2011. The pseudonymous founder has never been definitively identified, despite numerous investigations and documentaries.

What makes Satoshi’s anonymity particularly intriguing is the potential fortune at stake. Wallets associated with Satoshi’s original holdings contain approximately 1.1 million BTC—worth roughly $122 billion at current valuations. This staggering wealth, combined with Satoshi’s mysterious vanishing act, has fueled decades of speculation and conspiracy theories ripe for cinematic exploration.

With “Killing Satoshi,” Hollywood is wagering that audiences are equally fascinated by Bitcoin’s origins and the untold story of its creator.