Amazon MGM Studios has dropped Artificial, the upcoming Luca Guadagnino film based on the dramatic 2023 leadership crisis at OpenAI. The film, which is reportedly close to completion, will now be offered to other studios and distributors. Amazon MGM confirmed the decision in a statement, saying it believes the project would be “better served” by another studio.
Directed by Guadagnino from a screenplay by former Saturday Night Live writer Simon Rich, Artificial explores the turbulent period in late 2023 when OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman was abruptly removed from the company before being reinstated just days later.
Andrew Garfield stars as Altman, with Monica Barbaro playing former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati. The ensemble cast is equally strong, with Yura Borisov, Mark Rylance, Ike Barinholtz, Cooper Koch, Cooper Hoffman, Billie Lourd and Chris O’Dowd also appearing.
In a statement provided to industry outlets, Amazon MGM said: “We have the utmost respect and admiration for Luca Guadagnino as an award-winning filmmaker, not to mention a longstanding relationship that we hope to continue. We believe that Artificial will be better served if it were released by a different studio and are working closely with the filmmaking team to find the film a new home.”
The decision is particularly notable given Amazon’s growing relationship with OpenAI. Earlier this year, Amazon announced a multibillion-dollar strategic partnership with the artificial intelligence company, including plans for significant investment through Amazon Web Services. Neither Amazon nor the filmmakers have suggested that the partnership directly influenced the decision to part ways with the project. However, the timing has inevitably attracted attention given the film’s subject matter and Amazon’s business ties to OpenAI.
Artificial was expected to be Guadagnino’s third collaboration with Amazon MGM following Challengers and After the Hunt. Reports from early test screenings suggested the film received a positive reception. The story has already drawn comparisons to The Social Network, focusing on the power struggles, competing ambitions and behind-the-scenes tensions that shaped one of the most talked-about moments in modern technology.
For CultureCues, it is surprising that Artificial was so close to completion before losing its distributor. Guadagnino has become one of the industry’s most reliable and interesting filmmakers, while the cast alone makes the film sound like a project worth watching. Given the attention surrounding AI, OpenAI and Sam Altman, it would be surprising if another studio did not move quickly to give Artificial a new home.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.