In a surprising turn of events, Amazon MGM has decided not to move forward with Artificial, a film by Luca Guadagnino about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. In what comes as a disappointment to many, the film, set to star Andrew Garfield, has been in progress for nearly a year. A rollercoaster story of Altman’s tumultuous five days in 2023, where he was abruptly dismissed and then reinstated as CEO, is not to hit the screens under Amazon’s cine-banner.
Garfield, known for his captivating performances, was set to portray Sam Altman, bringing into focus the intricacies of his challenges and triumphs. The cast was also adorned by Monica Barbaro, an actress from A Complete Unknown, who was cast as OpenAI’s CTO Mira Murati and the versatile Ike Barinholtz, taking on the role of tech mogul Elon Musk. Anora star Yura Borisov was due to depict the mind of OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever.
This component of the plot, coupled with the caliber of the attached cast, promised an engrossing story to viewers about the tech world’s cut-throat reality and the intense dynamics within OpenAI. However, in an unexpected move, Amazon MGM deemed the production better suited under a different studio umbrella.
In a statement provided to Deadline, the film studio subtly suggested the separation. Amazon MGM seemed to exhibit genuine concern for the movie’s deserving platform by saying that the film “will be better served if it were released by a different studio”. At the same time, they assured cooperation with the filmmaker while making the transition smooth.
The decision to drop Artificial raises questions about the future of the film. Will another studio pick it up, or will it become a shelved project? Only time will tell. However, one thing is for sure – the excitement surrounding the film’s premise, the selected cast, and the controversial story of Sam Altman will maintain the buzz and eagerness among viewers worldwide.
