Julia Garner and Anthony Boyle Transform Into Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison in Netflix’s The Altruists
Netflix has unveiled the first look at The Altruists, its upcoming limited series dramatizing the rise and collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the relationship between its founder Sam Bankman-Fried and former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison.
Julia Garner stars as Ellison, while Anthony Boyle portrays Bankman-Fried in the eight-episode series. Netflix has also confirmed that The Altruists will premiere on November 19, 2026.
The project is attracting significant attention because it brings one of the biggest financial scandals of the cryptocurrency era to the screen through a high-profile dramatic cast and creative team.
Julia Garner Plays Caroline Ellison
Garner takes on the role of Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research who became one of the central figures in the FTX story.
The actress is best known for her Emmy-winning performance in Ozark and has also appeared in projects including Inventing Anna and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Her performance in The Altruists gives her another opportunity to portray a real-life figure involved in a complicated financial and personal story.
Garner is also an executive producer on the series.
Anthony Boyle Plays Sam Bankman-Fried
Anthony Boyle portrays Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX whose rapid rise in the cryptocurrency industry eventually ended with the company’s spectacular collapse.
Boyle has earned recognition through performances in projects including Masters of the Air, Manhunt and Say Nothing.
The role represents one of his most prominent leading performances and requires him to portray Bankman-Fried during both his rise to prominence and the downfall of his business empire.
Netflix Reveals First Look
The newly released images provide audiences with their first substantial look at Garner and Boyle in character.
The photographs show the actors portraying the two central figures at different points in the story, offering a glimpse at the production’s approach to recreating the world surrounding FTX.
Netflix’s announcement also confirms that the series will consist of eight episodes.
The first-look reveal comes as Netflix begins preparing the project for its November launch.
The Story Behind The Altruists
The series follows Bankman-Fried and Ellison as two ambitious young figures attempting to reshape the global financial system through cryptocurrency.
Their professional relationship became intertwined with their personal lives as FTX and Alameda Research expanded rapidly.
The story eventually moves toward the collapse of FTX and the criminal investigations and legal consequences that followed.
Netflix describes the series as an exploration of how the pair’s ambitions developed before their financial empire collapsed.
A High-Profile Creative Team
The Altruists was created by Graham Moore and Jacqueline Hoyt, who serve as co-showrunners.
Moore is known for writing The Imitation Game, while Hoyt has worked on television projects including The Underground Railroad.
The series is based on reporting from New York Magazine and is produced with Higher Ground Productions, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, alongside other production partners.
The executive producers include Graham Moore, Jacqueline Hoyt, Barack and Michelle Obama, Jessie Dicovitsky, Vinnie Malhotra, Tonia Davis, James Ponsoldt, Lauren Morelli, Julia Garner and Scoop Wasserstein.
A Large Ensemble Cast
Garner and Boyle lead an extensive ensemble.
The cast includes Alex Lawther as Sam Trabucco, Karan Soni as Nishad Singh, Naomi Okada as Claire Watanabe, Madison Hu as Constance Wang, Matt Rife as Ryan Salame and Eugene Young as Gary Wang.
The supporting cast also features Paul Reiser as Joe Bankman and Robin Weigert as Barbara Fried, Bankman-Fried’s parents.
Jennifer Grey, Terry Chen, Maddie Hasson, Marianna Phung, William Mapother and other performers also appear in the series.
The FTX Collapse Comes to Netflix
The collapse of FTX became one of the most closely watched financial scandals of the cryptocurrency era.
FTX had grown into one of the world’s best-known cryptocurrency exchanges before a liquidity crisis in 2022 triggered its collapse.
Bankman-Fried was subsequently convicted on federal fraud charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Ellison, who cooperated with prosecutors and testified during Bankman-Fried’s trial, was sentenced to two years in prison before being released from federal custody earlier in 2026.
The real-life developments provide the foundation for the dramatic story Netflix is adapting.
Netflix’s Growing Interest in True Stories
The Altruists continues Netflix’s interest in turning major real-world events into dramatic television.
The platform has previously developed limited series based on financial scandals, corporate controversies and high-profile criminal cases.
The FTX story is particularly suited to serialized television because it combines business ambition, cryptocurrency, personal relationships and a dramatic corporate collapse.
The series can explore the people behind the headlines while also examining how one of the world’s most prominent cryptocurrency companies unraveled.
When Does The Altruists Premiere?
Netflix has confirmed that The Altruists will premiere on November 19, 2026.
The series will consist of eight episodes and will be available exclusively on Netflix.
The newly released first-look material is expected to be followed by additional promotional material as the premiere approaches.
Why The Altruists Is One of Netflix’s Notable Upcoming Dramas
The combination of a widely known real-world story and a recognizable cast gives The Altruists significant potential to attract viewers.
Julia Garner brings an established Netflix audience from Ozark, while Anthony Boyle has become increasingly prominent through major television and film roles.
The FTX collapse itself remains a subject of public interest, particularly as cryptocurrency continues to play a major role in global finance.
By turning the story into an eight-part drama, Netflix can explore the relationship between Bankman-Fried and Ellison while also examining the events that led to FTX’s downfall.
Looking Ahead
Netflix’s first look at The Altruists gives audiences their first major glimpse of Julia Garner and Anthony Boyle as Caroline Ellison and Sam Bankman-Fried.
With Graham Moore and Jacqueline Hoyt leading the creative team and a large ensemble cast supporting the two stars, the series is positioned as one of Netflix’s major true-story dramas for the end of 2026.
The Altruists premieres November 19, bringing the dramatic story of FTX’s rise and collapse to Netflix audiences worldwide.
