The speed of the production pretty well matched the public timeline, Armstrong said. He pitched the idea to HBO chief Casey Bloys in December 2024, then wrote the script in January. Most of the cast signed on before Armstrong finished the script, and the production time was short.

Jesse Armstrong loves to pull fictional stories out of reality. His universally acclaimed TV show Succession, for instance, was inspired by real-life media dynasties like the Murdochs and the Hearsts.

Viewers will get an early look at Mountainhead, Jesse Armstrong's follow-up project to his hit series Succession.