Amazon MGM Studios has discontinued work on a nearly finished film about OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, months after the tech giant revealed a $50 billion investment in the artificial intelligence company. The project, titled *Artificial* and starring Andrew Garfield as Altman, had drawn attention for its portrayal of the AI leader as a pathological liar, with Elon Musk depicted in an equally unflattering light by Ike Barinholtz.
The decision to drop the film comes despite Amazon’s recent significant financial commitment to OpenAI, which sparked speculation over whether the content influenced the studio’s choice. Amazon denied that the film’s subject matter was a factor, stating that *Artificial* would be “better served” by another studio. Warner Bros, A24, and Netflix also reportedly declined to pick up the project. The film’s director, Luca Guadagnino, known for *Challengers* and *Call Me By Your Name*, had completed principal photography and was engaged in post-production when Amazon withdrew.
According to reports, Mubi, a British on-demand streaming service, has expressed interest in acquiring *Artificial*, with a release planned for early 2027. Amazon’s statement emphasized respect for Guadagnino and indicated ongoing collaboration to find a new distributor.
*Artificial*, written by Simon Rich, dramatizes the tumultuous period in 2023 during which Altman was briefly ousted from OpenAI before being reinstated. The ensemble cast includes Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Monica Barbaro, Cooper Koch, Billie Lourd, Zosia Mamet, Angus Imrie, Chris O’Dowd, and Mark Rylance.
Founded in 2015 by Altman, Musk, and other tech leaders as a non-profit organization, OpenAI aims to develop safe and beneficial artificial intelligence. Its product ChatGPT, launched in November 2022, has grown rapidly, reportedly attracting over 900 million weekly active users and 50 million paying subscribers.
OpenAI raised a record $110 billion in February 2026, valuing the company at $840 billion. Nearly half that amount—$50 billion—came from Amazon, with SoftBank and Nvidia providing $30 billion each. Altman recently announced plans for an initial public offering, targeting a valuation of at least $1 trillion.
Altman, 41, maintains a close relationship with Amazon leadership, having attended the wedding of CEO Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in Venice last year.