Is ‘Industry’ Based on a True Story? Why the HBO Drama Feels a Little Too Real [Video]

Industry, BBC and HBO’s gripping finance drama, has captured audiences with its portrayal of young bankers navigating the high-stakes world of investment banking.

As the third season hits its stride, the show is reaching new heights of popularity, with the premiere outpacing season 2 and its third episode drawing a record-breaking 370,000 cross-platform viewers, Deadline reported. The fast-paced narrative, set against the make-or-break backdrop of international finance, has many wondering: Is Industry based on a true story?

With its intricate power dynamics and relentless pressure, the show’s intense portrayal of the banking world feels almost too real, leading audiences to speculate about the real-life experiences that may have inspired it.

Creators Konrad Kay and Mickey Down, both former bankers, have spoken candidly about how their personal exposure to the finance world influenced the series. “Coming from that world [of banking], we wanted people who watched in that world to be like, ‘OK, …