Film Based On Former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann In The Works

The origins of the workspace company WeWork will be told on the big screen as Universal and Blumhouse Productions are teaming up to tackle the story. The film would follow the rise and fall of WeWork’s former CEO Adam Neumann.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Oscar-winning screenwriter Charles Randolph (“The Big Short”) would be crafting the story about the startup company. The screenplay would be adapted from Katrina Brooker’s in-depth interviews with Neumann and others from WeWork, which has been embroiled in controversy. The untitled feature would also be based on her upcoming book, which details the drive behind the partnership between Neumann and SoftBank SEO Masayoshi Son.

WeWork was first established in 2010 with Neumann and his wife Rebekah under their group the We Company. However, in 2019, WeWork began receiving bad press after a dismal IPO valuation and reportedly reckless behavior by Neumann. An article from The Wall Street Journal was released where various WeWork directors wanted Neumann to step down as CEO after word got out on Neumann’s continuous spending and drug use. It was later revealed that Neumann took $700 million out of WeWork before the company’s IPO was released. The former CEO resigned towards the end of September with his replacements Artie Minson and Sebastian Gunningham taking over the company.

As for the film, Randolph is best known for his screenplay for the 2015 film “The Big Short,” which covered the financial crisis in 2007-2008. His next project is the upcoming film “Bombshell,” which follows the women at Fox News who took down Roger Ailes. Jason Blum has also produced the miniseries “The Loudest Voice” following a similar story regarding the once-powerful media figure at Fox. The miniseries was released earlier this year on Showtime. Blum’s next film coming this year is the slasher film “Black Christmas.”

No release date has been given on the untitled Neumann film as it goes into development.