Cory Michael Smith, widely known for his role as the Riddler in Gotham, continues to captivate audiences with his performance in Mountainhead, the much-anticipated directorial debut from Succession creator Jesse Armstrong. Following standout appearances in May December and Saturday Night, Smith now takes center stage in a role that challenges both his emotional range and intellectual agility.
“This is easily one of my favorite jobs I’ve ever had,” Smith told Gold Derby. “Being hired by Jesse Armstrong, who I’m a huge fan of, and working with this incredible cast, was an unforgettable experience.”
In Mountainhead, Smith portrays Venis, a tech billionaire whose AI-driven social media platform inadvertently plunges the world into chaos. As global unrest escalates, Venis joins three of his conflicted peers—played by Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, and Ramy Youssef—for a tense weekend retreat where the stability of the world, and his own moral compass, is put to the ultimate test.
A Timely Tale of Technology and Turmoil
Jesse Armstrong, the Emmy-winning mastermind behind Succession, fast-tracked this project to reflect the urgent relevance of artificial intelligence in today’s world. First announced in January, the film began casting in March and will debut on HBO and Max on May 31, just in time for 2025 Emmy eligibility.
“The immediacy of this story really appealed to me,” Smith said. “AI is here now. And no one, not even the developers, fully understand its reach or consequences. That unknown makes it fertile ground for storytelling.”
The film tackles themes of ethical ambiguity, tech obsession, and power corruption—territory Armstrong has mastered over the years. In Mountainhead, however, these ideas are intensified through a character-driven lens.
A Complex Character Study
Though sharing screen time with heavyweight actors, Smith stands out in the role of Venis—a man whose brilliance is only rivaled by his moral vacancy. The character’s dedication to his AI empire and his child (a symbol of his genius) paints him as both vulnerable and terrifyingly detached.
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“One of the first tasks of playing a morally compromised character is to find empathy,” Smith explained. “For Venis, his vulnerabilities lie in his child and in the things he’s created. He’s a narcissist, yes, but that’s what makes him fascinating.”
Smith prepared rigorously for the role, even adopting a new rehearsal process. He worked through the script intensively for a week with a coach, honing his fluency in the complex “tech-bro” language that defines Venis.
“It wasn’t acting training in the traditional sense,” Smith noted. “It was about internalizing the language to the point that it became second nature. That might be my new way of working from now on.”
A Defining Role in a Defining Moment
Mountainhead marks a pivotal moment in Smith’s career, establishing him as a lead capable of anchoring thought-provoking, high-stakes drama. His performance not only embodies the tension and unease of the AI age, but also reflects the moral ambiguity that defines our times.
As Smith himself puts it, Mountainhead is more than entertainment—it’s a mirror to a world grappling with technological power and human frailty.
