Netflix unveils lead actors for new FTX series, The Altruist

Netflix has announced the two actors who will be playing Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellis in the streaming service’s upcoming limited series inspired by the FTX scandal.

On May 30, the major streaming platform officially unveiled the two young actors who will be playing the leads in the eight-episode limited series centered around the events that led up to the bankruptcy and apparent fraud of the crypto exchange FTX.

The show will reportedly be titled “The Altruist” and will be produced by Higher Ground, a production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama.

In a recent post, Netflix confirmed the leads for the upcoming drama series. Former CEO of FTX Sam Bankman-Fried will be played by Anthony Boyle, while his one-time girlfriend and former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison will be portrayed by Julia Garner.

“Two hyper-smart young idealists try to remake the global financial system in the blink of an eye…only to seduce each other into stealing $8 billion,” wrote Netflix in its post.

Who are Netflix’s picks for SBF and Caroline Ellis?

Anthony Boyle is a Northern Irish Actor known for his roles in mini-series’ like Say Nothing, Masters of the Air and the upcoming Netflix show House of Guinness. He has also appeared in movies like Tetris and Tolkien.

Meanwhile, Julia Garner is an Emmy-winning actress known for appearing in Ozark, Inventing Anna, Maniac, and The Get Down.

According to Netflix’s Tudum, the show will be co-showrun by Graham Moore and Jacqueline Hoyt. Moore previously directed the Imitation Game and The Outfit, while Hoyt is known for producing The Underground Railroad, Dietland, and Leftovers.

“For nearly three years now, Sam and Caroline’s story has been my daily obsession, I’m so grateful to my friends at Netflix and Higher Ground for loving this story not only as much as I do, but in the same way that I do,” said Moore.

Executive producer and director James Ponsoldt, known for his work on The Spectacular Now, Daisy Jones & The Six, and Shrinking, is set to direct the first episode. While Vinnie Malhotra and Jessie Dicovitsky will serve as executive producers for Higher Ground Productions.

Although the streaming service has yet to reveal an exact date for when the show airs, it may be possible that Ellis would be able to catch it before it vanishes from the platform. Sentenced to 24 months in prison, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons estimated that Ellis will be released next year, in May 2026.

On the other hand, the BOP estimated Bankman-Fried will be released four years earlier than his original 25-year prison sentence. His sentence was reportedly reduced due to good behavior credits, prison program participation, and his time in pre-sentencing detention.