Amazon MGM Parts Ways with "Artificial"
Amazon MGM Studios has reportedly decided not to release Luca Guadagnino's film, "Artificial," which chronicles the tumultuous five days in 2023 when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was fired and subsequently reinstated. The film, starring Andrew Garfield as Altman, was nearing completion and had received positive feedback in test screenings. Despite a longstanding relationship with Guadagnino, Amazon stated that "Artificial" would be "better served if it were released by a different studio" and is working with the filmmaking team to find a new home for the project.
The decision to drop the film was made by Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. This move is particularly noteworthy as Amazon had previously seen every early iteration of the script before Guadagnino was even hired to direct. The film is described as a comedic drama focusing on the world of artificial intelligence and the power struggles within OpenAI.
The OpenAI Connection: A Billion-Dollar Influence
The dropping of "Artificial" by Amazon MGM comes just months after Amazon announced a substantial $50 billion investment in OpenAI. This investment is part of a broader partnership that also designates Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the exclusive third-party cloud distribution provider for OpenAI's enterprise platform. This deepened financial and technological tie between Amazon and OpenAI has fueled speculation regarding the true motives behind the film's cancellation.
Beyond the corporate alliance, there is also a personal connection between Altman and Amazon Founder and Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos, with Altman having attended Bezos' wedding. While Amazon has not explicitly linked the film's cancellation to its OpenAI partnership or the personal relationship, many observers find it difficult to separate these factors from the outcome. The film's reportedly unflattering portrayal of Altman is believed to be a significant factor in Amazon's decision.
A Critical Portrayal and Industry Implications
Reports suggest that "Artificial" presents a critical view of both Sam Altman and Elon Musk, who is portrayed by Ike Barinholtz. An early viewer indicated that Altman and Musk were the characters audiences would "like the least." The film's narrative centers on the dramatic events of November 2023, when Altman was ousted by OpenAI's board for allegedly not being "consistently candid" in his communications. The board's concerns reportedly included Altman's attempts to remove a director who had been critical of OpenAI's safety practices while praising rival firm Anthropic.
The cast also includes Monica Barbaro as former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati and Yura Borisov as former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, who was among the board members who initially ousted Altman. The decision by Amazon MGM to offload a nearly completed film with a high-profile director and cast raises questions about potential corporate self-censorship and the influence of major tech investments on creative freedom in Hollywood. The film is now being shopped to other studios by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Media Finance.