New film from NEON seeks to portray Altman in a way he may not approve of. Here’s what you need to know
Updated: 12 September 2026
NEON’s new film Artificial, directed by Luca Guadagnino, is being described as a dark comedy, though it could be that no one gets to see it come Christmas Day. That’s if the claims in the trailer are to be believed. The latest from the studio sees Andrew Garfield play controversial OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and follows the farcical firing and rehiring of the ChatGPT co-founder.
Initially, Amazon was set to distribute the movie, but dropped it after announcing a partnership with OpenAI in June of this year, amid reports that it does not portray Altman in a flattering light. NEON quickly picked it up, and it has since been compared more to The Social Network than its initial online chatter suggested.
The Plot
Artificial follows the quick rise and fall of Sam Altman following his controversial dismissal and subsequent reinstatement at OpenAI. It follows reports that Altman was secretive and failed to disclose ChatGPT’s launch to the company’s board. It is also said to portray a power struggle within the company after employees revolted against the board, threatening to quit after he was let go.
According to some reports, Altman’s firing was linked to concerns over his leadership and transparency, while other stories claimed the board had discovered a dangerous AI breakthrough. OpenAI later pushed back on speculation that safety or the speed of AI development was behind his dismissal, saying it “did not arise out of concerns regarding product safety or security, the pace of development”.
Our Verdict
Hype-meter
Andrew Garfield looks more like Zack Efron than Sam Altman, but we can be assured he will deliver a stellar performance. Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial appears intriguing, and the fact that Amazon bowed out of distribution means we may get a film that truly pries into the unruly world of AI development, egos and all.
Some even say that controversial claims about AI bringing an end to the world as we know it are hyperbole designed to drive up valuations and underscore the potential of the technology.
Whatever it is, the arrival of artificial intelligence has spelled potential doom for several industries, whether it benefits the public good or not, as companies see cost-saving as a priority over scaling human interaction as a core moral principle of business.
Production Details
Artificial is directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name (2017), Suspiria (2018) and Challengers (2024)), with cinematography by Malik Hassan Sayeed (He Got Game (1998), Eyes Wide Shut (1999)). It is written by Simon Rich, who worked on Seth Rogen’s An American Pickle (2020), and is a joint British, Italian and American production.
What You Need to Know
Cast
Andrew Garfield: Sam Altman
Monica Barbaro: Mira Murati
Yura Borisov: Ilya Sutskever
Ike Barinholtz: Elon Musk
Mark Rylance: Geoffrey Hinton
Chris O’Dowd
Jason Schwartzman
Cooper Hoffman
Zosia Mamet
Billie Lourd
Thaddea Graham
Will Angus
Filming locations
Filming took place in San Francisco, California, with additional production in Italy.
Production Companies
Frenesy Film Company, Heyday Films, JF Films
Budget
Approximately $40 million
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