The Bad Guys 3 May Bring Back Hilarious Elon Musk Parody — Director Teases More Mr. Moon Fun
Bad Guys 3 Might Bring Back Elon Musk Parody, Director Says
The upcoming sequel, The Bad Guys 2, set to hit theaters on August 1, continues the story of a quirky crew of reformed criminals, now targeting a character inspired by Elon Musk. The director hints that The Bad Guys 3 could expand on this parody if the second film performs well.
- The Bad Guys 2 features a character, Mr. Moon, parodying Elon Musk
- Mr. Moon owns a space company called Moon X, a nod to SpaceX
- Director Pierre Perifel says the parody wasn’t meant as a direct caricature
- The Bad Guys 3 is already in development and might include more of Mr. Moon
- Perifel cautions against making the parody too tied to Musk’s current behavior to avoid dating the film
Who is Mr. Moon?
In The Bad Guys 2, Mr. Moon (voiced by Colin Jost) is an eccentric tech billionaire who owns Moon X, a clear play on Elon Musk’s SpaceX. He’s portrayed as vain, dorky, and obsessed with technology, only interested in talking to the ultra-rich. While adults will catch the reference, kids might just enjoy the fun character without the deeper context.
Parody or Just a Wink?
Director Pierre Perifel explained that the character was created over three years ago, before Musk’s more controversial public image developed. “We didn’t really do a caricature of Elon Musk,” Perifel said. “The parody came more from Moon X, SpaceX — it was more like a play on words, or a little wink, let’s say.”
He added that the team chose “Moon X” because it was an instantly recognizable joke for a billionaire’s space company. “People would immediately understand what that means, SpaceX being so famous.”
More Mr. Moon in The Bad Guys 3?
Though Mr. Moon plays a role in the central heist of The Bad Guys 2, he has less screen time compared to new characters like Pigtail, Doom, and Kitty Kat. Perifel mentioned he wishes there had been more time to explore Mr. Moon’s character and would consider bringing him back if a third movie gets the green light.
“Colin Jost did such a great job with him — very dry. If anything, a bit more of that guy. I wouldn’t mind bringing him back, if we can later. I know it would be fun.”
Keeping It Timeless
However, Perifel warns about the risks of anchoring characters too heavily to current events or personalities. “The problem is, when we do these kind of things in movies, you tend to anchor yourself in a period of time,” he said. “You date your film really quickly. So it’s fun in the moment, but later on you’re like, ‘Okay, what are we talking about here exactly?’ Movies age so quickly.”
He suggests that the filmmakers will likely avoid making the parody too specific to Elon Musk’s increasingly erratic public behavior or shifting reputation. Instead, the character remains a playful nod rather than a biting satire.
The Bad Guys returns to theaters on August 1. Fans can look forward to a fast-paced, fun caper with plenty of new characters — and maybe a bit more Mr. Moon if the franchise continues.
