Amazon, Netflix, others pass on Sam Altman biopic ‘Artificial’
Amazon, Netflix, others pass on Sam Altman biopic ‘Artificial’
The film still has suitors, but has been passed on by major names like A24 and Warner Bros.
Is Hollywood afraid of Sam Altman? It could well be so, as a new film, by an Oscar-nominated auteur following the saga of part of Altman’s time at OpenAI, is having a difficult time locating a distributor. The movie, “Artificial” by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, has been passed on by several major studios and streamers, creating questions as to whether they fear backlash from Altman after distributing a film that portrays him in a less-than-flattering light.
Key Details:
- We’ll pass: Netflix, A24, and others have now passed on “Artificial” after the movie was dropped by Amazon MGM.
- Still possibilities: Mubi and Neon remain as potential distributors for the film.
- No puff piece: The movie portrays Altman as a “pathological liar” according to one report.
Variety reports that “Artificial” is struggling to find a new distributor after having been abruptly dropped by Amazon MGM. The nearly completed film has been screened by A24, Clockwork, Netflix, and Warner Bros., all of whom have passed on the movie.
There is still hope for “Artificial,” however, as both Mubi and Neon remain as strong possibilities. If the movie lands at Mubi, it will likely stream on the Mubi on-demand platform once it leaves theaters, while Neon titles stream on Hulu after departing from cinemas. Guadagnino is the acclaimed director of films like “Call Me By Your Name,” “Challengers,” and “After the Hunt.”
The movie stars Andrew Garfield as Altman and portrays the OpenAI CEO as a “pathological liar,” according to Variety. The film also features a less-than-stellar portrayal of Elon Musk, per the report. Amazon MGM decided to abandon the project just months after announcing a $50 billion investment in OpenAI; Amazon has said the film would be “better served” by another studio distributing it, and denies that its subject matter played a role in the decision.
“Artificial” details the disruptive period in 2023 in which Altman was fired, then rehired by the OpenAI board in a matter of days. The movie stars Monica Barbaro, Yura Borisov, Cooper Hoffman, Cooper Koch, Billie Lourd, Zosia Mamet, Chris O’Dowd, Mark Rylance, and Jason Schwartzman.
The movie had been targeting a launch at SXSW, but its new hunt for a distributor will likely push back its debut. “Artificial” won’t end up streaming on Netflix or HBO Max after being passed on by several major studios, but the film still stands a strong chance of being released sooner or later, and the controversy over its release will likely only add to the public intrigue around it and its main character.
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