DreamWorks’ latest animated feature, The Bad Guys 2, is more than just a heist movie for kids — it’s also a clever satire of tech billionaires. Returning to theaters on August 1, the sequel continues the story of the reformed animal criminals from the hit 2022 film, now embroiled in a new mission targeting a high-profile, space-obsessed tycoon. His name? Mr. Moon. But to adult audiences, the resemblance to Elon Musk is impossible to miss.
Meet Mr. Moon: A Wink, Not a Caricature
Voiced by Saturday Night Live‘s Colin Jost, Mr. Moon is a short, blond, tech-savvy billionaire in a white suit who owns a private space exploration company called Moon X — an unmistakable nod to Musk’s SpaceX. According to co-director Pierre Perifel, the similarities are intentional but not meant as a personal attack. “We didn’t really do a caricature of Elon Musk,” Perifel explained. “The parody came more from Moon X, SpaceX — it was more like a play on words, or a little wink, let’s say.”
When development began over three years ago, Musk was still the eccentric electric car mogul trying to buy Twitter, not the controversial political influencer he’s become in 2025. The filmmakers insist that Mr. Moon wasn’t conceived as a commentary on Musk’s more recent actions, but rather as a familiar tech archetype exaggerated for comedic effect.
The Elon Connection: Satire with a Soft Touch
Despite Perifel’s insistence that Mr. Moon wasn’t a direct parody, his behavior and mannerisms strike a familiar chord. Vain, aloof, and obsessed with innovation, Mr. Moon is the type of billionaire who speaks only to the ultra-rich and surrounds himself with the latest gadgets. In one scene, he’s even getting married in a bizarre ceremony officiated by Mr. Shark, complete with synth music — a moment that highlights the absurdity of the character.
While Moon is central to the plot’s heist setup, he actually gets less screen time than fans might expect. That’s partially due to the introduction of a new team, The Bad Girls, which includes Pigtail (Maria Bakalova), Doom (Natasha Lyonne), and Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks), all of whom steal much of the spotlight. Still, Perifel says he’d love to explore Mr. Moon more in a potential Bad Guys 3.
“I really liked the way he turned out,” Perifel said. “Colin Jost did such a great job — very dry. I wouldn’t mind bringing him back if we can later.”
Will Mr. Moon Return in The Bad Guys 3?
Although The Bad Guys 3 hasn’t been green-lit yet, early development is already underway — just in case the second installment performs well at the box office. If Mr. Moon returns, don’t expect him to be updated to reflect Musk’s more controversial public image. According to Perifel, anchoring a movie too deeply in real-world personalities or politics can backfire creatively.
“When we do these kinds 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?’”
In that spirit, Mr. Moon remains more of a humorous nod than a pointed satire. His presence adds a layer of adult humor without overshadowing the film’s core appeal: a high-energy, kid-friendly adventure packed with charm, action, and a little bit of social commentary for the grown-ups.
The Bad Guys 2 continues DreamWorks’ streak of balancing slick visuals with layered storytelling — and Mr. Moon might just be its most sly character yet. Whether kids recognize the tech titan spoof or not, there’s no denying that the film’s latest villain is as timely as he is entertaining.
