{
  "id": 16578947,
  "title": "The 'Big Bad Theory'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/the-big-bad-theory",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-26T08:17:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/hollywood-villains-holmes-musk-zuckerberg-cupertino-cbs-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The concept of creating compelling villains has always posed a challenge for writers. Following the release of The Dark Knight, David Goyer, the film's writer, expressed relief about the Joker's role as an anti-plan. The Joker's unpredictability made it unnecessary to follow a strict plan. However, in today's world, real-life villains are increasingly being portrayed as tech billionaires, rather than insane clowns as suggested by Hollywood. This shift in villain representation has led to a growing fascination with Silicon Valley figures in popular media. For instance, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Elizabeth Holmes, Sam Altman, and Sam Bankman-Fried have all been featured as main antagonists in various movies, TV shows, and books.\n\nThe trend of villainizing tech billionaires is not just a passing fad; it is a reflection of the current societal sentiment towards Big Tech's dominance and influence. CBS legal procedural series, Cupertino, exemplifies this trend by showcasing a legal battle between a law firm and a tech company. The show highlights the class divide between the protagonists, who are largely from middle America, and the tech elites. Cupertino also delves into the anxieties surrounding AI and its potential dangers. The show's writers have crafted a narrative that resonates with America's parents and grandparents, who are eager to see the tech giants portrayed as the villains behind various societal issues.\n\nThe portrayal of tech nerds as villains in fiction is not entirely new. The trope of the mad scientist, like Dr. Frankenstein, has been prevalent in science fiction for decades. However, the recent surge in tech villain narratives signals a shift in the narrative landscape, where the middle-class is portrayed as the underdog fighting against the powerful tech elite. Cupertino's success in attracting a large viewership, especially among older demographics, indicates that the audience is hungry for stories that reflect their experiences and concerns. As media continues to shape public perception, it is crucial to examine the impact of these narratives on the public's view of technology and its creators.",
  "summary": "If you really want to understand the extent to which everyone thinks Silicon Valley is so uncanny these days, watch \"Cupertino.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}