Amazon Dropping Support Of Film About OpenAI Chief

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Amazon Studios has decided to drop its support for the film "Artificial," a biopic about Sam Altman's leadership at OpenAI, and is seeking another distributor after investing around $40 million and planning a 2027 release. This shift reflects Amazon's complex relationship with OpenAI amid a $50 billion investment and highlights ongoing tensions in the AI industry's cultural and business landscape.

Amazon Studios has announced it will no longer support the upcoming film “Artificial,” which chronicles Sam Altman’s tumultuous path to becoming CEO of OpenAI. The decision, disclosed in a statement on Friday, indicated that the project would be better suited for release by another studio. Amazon said it is working with the filmmakers to find a new distributor for the film.

The move came as a surprise to the production team, who reportedly were informed on Tuesday. Until that point, Amazon had been a strong backer of the project, investing approximately $40 million into the film. The studio had also conducted test screenings in four markets and was actively planning a release date, according to individuals familiar with the situation.

The decision was reportedly made by Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. One source indicated that Amazon MGM Studios had originally planned to release the film in 2027, with aspirations for its premiere at the SXSW Film & TV Festival, an event known for launching impactful films such as “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

“Artificial” is directed by Luca Guadagnino, known for “Call Me by Your Name,” and who has previously collaborated with Amazon MGM Studios on multiple projects such as “After the Hunt” and “Challengers.” Following Amazon’s withdrawal, Guadagnino’s representatives at Creative Artists Agency screened the film for several potential buyers, including independent distributors like Neon, A24, and Focus Features, as well as streaming giants Netflix and Warner Bros.’ new specialty division, Clockwork. To date, no new purchaser has been secured.

The screenplay was penned by Simon Rich, a former writer for “Saturday Night Live.” The film centers on Altman’s firing and subsequent rehiring at OpenAI, one of the leading companies in the artificial intelligence sector. Actor Andrew Garfield portrays Altman, while Ike Barinholtz takes on the role of Elon Musk. Early descriptions have likened the film to “The Social Network,” reimagined for the AI era.

Amazon’s shifting stance comes amid its broader strategic involvement with OpenAI, which includes a planned $50 billion investment this year. As part of the partnership, OpenAI has agreed to utilize Amazon-designed chips and relies on Amazon’s cloud computing infrastructure. The evolving relationship between the tech giants underscores the complexities surrounding AI development and its growing cultural footprint.

Separately, OpenAI and Microsoft are currently facing a copyright infringement lawsuit from The New York Times concerning AI-generated news content. Both companies have denied the allegations.