Julia Garner Nears Deal to Play Caroline Ellison in FTX Series at Netflix, Higher Ground Producing

Julia Garner is currently negotiating for a lead role in a Netflix limited series that would explore the rise and fall of FTX, Variety has learned from sources.

The untitled series would explore the story of the infamous cryptocurrency exchange through the lens of the love story of Caroline Ellison and Sam Bankman-Fried, with Garner nearing a deal to play Ellison. According to sources, Netflix has commissioned eight episodes with plans to begin shooting over the summer.

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Reps for Netflix declined to comment.

Graham Moore (“The Imitation Game,” “The Outfit”) is the writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner on the project, with Jacqueline Hoyt (“The Leftovers,” “The Good Wife”) attached to serve as executive producer and co-showrunner. Barack and Michelle Obama will executive produce under their Higher Ground banner along with Vinnie Malhotra. Scoop Wasserstein of Scoop Productions is also an executive producer, with Lauren Morelli executive producing as well. James Ponsoldt will direct the first episode and executive produce.

The role would bring Garner back to Netflix, where she previously starred in the hit crime drama “Ozark” as well as the limited crime drama “Inventing Anna.” She received three Emmy nominations — with three wins — for best supporting actress in a drama for “Ozark” and a nomination for best actress in a limited series for “Inventing Anna.”

Garner’s other Netflix credits include “The Get Down” and “Maniac,” while she has also been in shows like “The Americans” and “Dirty John.” In film, Garner will play The Silver Surfer in the upcoming “Fantastic Four” movie for Marvel, and will star in the highly-anticipated horror film “Weapons” from Zach Cregger.” Both films are due out later this year.

She is repped by UTA, LBI Entertainment, and Sloane Offer.

FTX was founded in 2019 and became one of the biggest and most well-known cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. But in 2022, the company imploded, with billions of dollars in customer funds reportedly missing and investigations underway by federal agencies. Bankman-Fried founded FTX, with Ellison serving as CEO of the affiliated crypto trading firm Alameda Research. Both were eventually convicted on various counts of wire and securities fraud, as well as money laundering. Amazon had also commissioned a limited series about FTX in 2022.

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