Amazon MGM Studios has decided to withdraw from its involvement in the film “Artificial,” which centers on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The studio concluded that the project, which had already seen an investment of approximately $40 million, would be more appropriately released by another company, as reported by multiple sources including Puck and Variety.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film features Andrew Garfield portraying Altman during his brief dismissal and subsequent rehiring at OpenAI in 2023. Initially slated for a release in 2027, the decision to halt the project reportedly surprised the filmmakers, with Amazon stating they are actively seeking a new distributor.
Despite extensive testing in four markets, the film's darker tone did not align with the expectations set by the original script, leading to the withdrawal by Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. Previous partnerships between Amazon and Guadagnino include acclaimed works like “Call Me by Your Name” and “After the Hunt.”
Amazon has maintained its commitment to finding the film a new home, although both Netflix and Focus Features have opted not to pursue it. The studio's public statement regarding the withdrawal did not provide specific reasons for the decision.