Who doesn’t love a good founder biopic? Daniel Ek, Travis Kalanick, Adam Neumann, Steve Jobs and Elizabeth Holmes have all had the Hollywood treatment in recent years.
So we thought, wouldn’t it be great to see more founders on screen? Here’s an idea that started life on Sifted Slack and grew legs (to the extent that it put us all severely behind on our work one evening…).
Here’s our dream casting — tell us yours.
Jeremy Strong as Revolut cofounder Nikolay Storonsky
Strong brings an iron-wrought sincerity to every role, so we back him to do the same, retelling Revolut’s long journey to securing its banking licence.
Joanna Scanlan as Starling Bank founder Anne Boden
Boden released a book this year, so the screenplay’s halfway written already. And Scanlan’s brilliant in The Thick of It and many other things — she can pull this off.
Florence Pugh to play billionaire Harald Mix
Don’t watch the film Midsommar — it’s terrifying — but do admire these lovely flower crowns.
Ray Winstone to play Cazoo founder Alex Chesterman
We’ve always loved this picture of an unsmiling Chesterman in front of an advert urging you to smile.
Home Alone’s Kieran Culkin as VC and podcaster Harry Stebbings
Culkin’s a scene stealer — he’s the right man to take on the podcast supremo.
Stanley Tucci as Babylon founder Ali Parsa
Tucci brings great reassurance and warmth to every role. We trust him.
Marion Cotillard as Sweep founder Rachel Delacour
Perfect casting — so long as Cottillard agrees to cut her hair.
Joseph Fiennes to play firstminute capital principal Michael Stothard
Stothard, formerly of the Sifted parish, seems like perfect foil for Fiennes. The brother of Ralph recently played former England manager Gareth Southgate — here’s his chance to play another visionary.
Willem Dafoe to play Look Up Ventures and Ganni founder Nicolaj Reffstrup
One’s an expert on supply chain efficiency, the other is Nicolaj Reffstrup.
Sarah Snook to play BetterMe CEO Victoria Repa
We’re showing our bias here by choosing our third Succession actor. But Snook seems like the right fit for Repa, the Ukrainian behind the very popular fitness app.
Rose Matafeo to play The Family CEO Alice Zagury
They’re hair twins — and that’s a fine foundation to build on.
