Andrew Garfield on Amazon Dropping ‘Artificial’ and Wanting to Meet Sam Altman (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety

What the report says

Variety reported that Andrew Garfield has addressed Amazon MGM Studios’ decision to part ways with “Artificial,” the Luca Guadagnino-directed film in which Garfield plays OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. Speaking Wednesday while promoting “The Magic Faraway Tree,” Garfield said he was both surprised and unsurprised, describing Amazon as supportive during production and saying he was grateful the studio helped the project move to a new distributor.

The Simon Rich-written film centers on the high-profile 2023 episode in which Altman was removed from OpenAI and then reinstated. According to Variety, Neon has acquired the nearly completed movie, which carries a reported $40 million budget, after Amazon said the film would be better released elsewhere. Variety noted the decision followed Amazon’s major OpenAI partnership, including a $50 billion investment, and came after Altman attended Jeff Bezos’s wedding.

Garfield said he did not contact Altman while preparing for the role, explaining that he did not have direct contact information, but added that he would be interested in meeting him. He said there was extensive public material available, including interviews, audio, video and reporting, while emphasizing that his performance is based on the screenplay’s version of Altman rather than a complete portrait of the real person.

The cast also includes Monica Barbaro, Yura Borisov, Mark Rylance, Ike Barinholtz, Jason Schwartzman, Zosia Mamet, Cooper Hoffman, Chris O’Dowd, Cooper Koch and Billie Lourd. Variety also reported that Hoffman, whose role has not been disclosed, said he was not surprised Amazon stepped away and was pleased Neon picked up the film. Neon plans an awards push for this year’s Oscar race.