Steve Carell Says Mountainhead Is ‘Succession-ish': ‘It's Darker And Chilling'

News18

30-05-2025

Last Updated:
Steve Carell reacts to the internet comparing Mountainhead to popular TV series, Succession, and expresses worry over living in a high-tech world where AI rules the roost.
Following Succession, which ended two years ago, creator Jesse Armstrong returns with Mountainhead, set to premiere on HBO on May 31. While Jesse once said he wasn't sure if he wanted to make a follow-up to his iconic series, his upcoming outing is drawing attention for its Succession-style exploration of male ambition, power, wealth, and greed. Mountainhead is set in a world dominated by AI, tech bros, and Meta-style giants, who also hold the power to trigger eco-political instability.
Speaking exclusively to News18, Steve Carell, who plays one of the protagonists in Mountainhead, responds to comparisons between the show and Succession. He says the Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, and Brian Cox-starring series was 'dark," but that Mountainhead is 'darker" and 'crazier." 'I think it's Succession-ish in the sense that it's created by Jesse Armstrong. But it's different. It's different in terms of its tone," The Office star tells us.
Steve actually prefers to compare Mountainhead to Stanley Kubrick's 1964 Cold War satire Dr. Strangelove, which also tackled themes of power and ambition. 'I loved Succession and that's the reason I signed on to this. I was and am a huge fan of Jesse's. But tonally, they're a little bit different. To me, Mountainhead feels like a modern-day Doctor Strangelove, and that's one of my favourite films of all time. The darkness and the tether Mountainhead has to reality in this moment is chilling," he states.
The trailer touches upon the far-reaching consequences of AI and deepfakes, evoking growing AI-related anxieties. One scene portrays a violence-engulfed Asia following a deepfake outbreak that further distorts the perception of reality. 'To a degree, it's terrifying. The fact that this technology not only exists but is further along than most of us understand and that the timeline between where we are and what's depicted in the film might not be that far is terrifying," says a concerned Steve.
Mountainhead is already receiving rave reviews for its satirical depiction of a tech-ruled, high-stakes world. Elaborating on the film's core themes, Steve remarks, 'That's why there's a bone-chilling essence to it. This is potentially a real issue we'll face as a society going forward. I loved the way Jesse crafted this film. It's incredibly frightening, but there's also some kind of a palette cleanse with very, very funny moments. I think he has it both ways."
First Published:
May 31, 2025, 04:37 IST