Bruising Film on OpenAI Secured by Independent Studio After Amazon Withdrawal
Poinews.com – Independent distributor Neon has taken ownership of “Artificial,” Luca Guadagnino’s high-profile drama centered on Sam Altman and the AI startup OpenAI. The acquisition follows Amazon MGM Studios’ sudden decision to drop the nearly completed project earlier this month. Industry observers suggest the move reflects tensions stemming from Amazon’s recent $50 billion (€46bn) alliance with OpenAI, announced in late February.
About the Film
The movie features Andrew Garfield as Altman, with Monica Barbaro portraying former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati, Yura Borisov as co-founder Ilya Sutskever, and Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk. Written by SNL alumnus Simon Rich, it’s been described as a modern-day “The Social Network” for the AI era—a reference to David Fincher’s 2010 film about Facebook’s origins and the ensuing conflicts among its creators.
“It’s like ‘The Social Network’ but for the age of artificial intelligence,” noted a film insider.
“Artificial” dramatizes the chaotic 2023 weekend when Altman was ousted by OpenAI’s board and quickly reinstated. Filmed in San Francisco and Italy, the project marks Guadagnino’s third collaboration with Amazon MGM, following “Challengers” and “After the Hunt.” The director shared his perspective on Italian television show Otto e Mezzo, calling the story a symptom of a broader issue: the growing influence of a “tech oligarchy” over global identity.
Guadagnino argued that this “oligarchy” wields “truly radical control” over societies like the United States, highlighting the stark inequalities he observed during filming in Silicon Valley’s vicinity. The film’s timing is significant, as Amazon withdrew just months after finalizing its expansive partnership with OpenAI.
The Partnership
The deal includes two phases: an initial $15 billion (€13bn) payment for Series C preferred stock, with an additional $35 billion (€31bn) tied to milestones such as OpenAI hitting technical targets or launching an IPO. The agreement also expanded OpenAI’s cloud contract with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to about $138 billion (€121bn), making AWS the sole distributor for Frontier, OpenAI’s enterprise division. Furthermore, OpenAI pledged to run two gigawatts of workloads on Amazon’s Trainium AI chip, a cost-effective alternative to Nvidia’s GPUs.
Amazon cited “Artificial”’s subject matter and its unflattering portrayal of Altman as reasons for its withdrawal, stating the film would “be better served if it were released by a different studio.” The studio praised Guadagnino as an “award-winning filmmaker,” but critics remain skeptical, questioning the connection between the film’s content and Amazon’s decision.
The Film’s Journey
Despite positive test screenings, the film’s tone has sparked debate. An insider revealed that Altman and Musk were perceived as the least sympathetic figures, with viewers “would like least” their portrayals. A buyer shared with podcaster Matt Belloni that the movie was “dark” and “grim,” leaving audiences uneasy about the future of human society.
“It left people unsettled about the direction of our world,” said the buyer.
Once Amazon stepped back, the film became a sought-after asset. Netflix and Focus Features declined, while A24 hesitated, despite being backed by Thrive Capital—OpenAI’s major investor. Warner Bros.’ Clockwork label also withdrew, leaving Mubi and Neon as the final contenders. Neon, known for its track record with Cannes winners, is now positioning “Artificial” for this year’s awards season, though a festival premiere has yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to push forward with its plans for a stock market listing that could value the company above $850 billion (€745bn), one of the largest tech IPOs ever. Amazon’s remaining $35 billion (€31bn) investment is reportedly dependent on the listing’s success, underscoring that the company is not the only stakeholder in the AI narrative.
For a film exploring control over transformative technology, its own arduous path to completion mirrors the very themes it portrays. The struggle to secure a distributor now serves as a testament to the power dynamics shaping the AI landscape.
