Andrew Garfield has drawn significant attention with his portrayal of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in the upcoming film “Artificial,” which premiered to positive reactions at the New York Film Festival last week. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film dramatizes a pivotal five-day period in 2023 during which Altman was briefly fired and subsequently reinstated as head of OpenAI.

Garfield, a two-time Oscar nominee known for his earlier work in “The Amazing Spider-Man,” has garnered early awards consideration for his performance. Speaking at the London Film Festival premiere, he described the project as intense and expressed pride in the film. Garfield emphasized the film’s relevance, noting that it explores current figures who play crucial roles in shaping the trajectory of artificial intelligence, including Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, and Elon Musk.

Joining Garfield in the cast is Yura Borisov, who portrays Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s co-founder involved in the events leading to Altman’s dismissal. Borisov, previously nominated for an Oscar for his supporting role in “Anora,” described the film’s reception as “a miracle.” The ensemble also features Monica Barbaro as Mira Murati, the former OpenAI CTO; Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk; and Mark Rylance as Geoffrey Hinton, often referred to as the “Godfather of AI.”

“Artificial” is slated for a theatrical release in the United States on December 25, with a UK release scheduled for January 22. The film’s focus on prominent technology leaders and the challenges of managing rapidly evolving AI technologies has generated considerable interest ahead of its wide distribution.