TechFlow News, June 20: According to The New York Times, Amazon MGM Studios has decided to drop its upcoming film *Artificial*, which chronicles Sam Altman’s turbulent path to becoming CEO of OpenAI. Earlier this year, Amazon announced plans to invest $50 billion in OpenAI. In a statement issued Friday, the company said the film “would be better suited for release by another studio” and confirmed it is working closely with the production team to find a new home for the project.
Two individuals familiar with the film’s development said Amazon’s decision shocked the production team, which was informed of the move on Tuesday. Prior to this announcement, Amazon had actively supported the project—having invested approximately $40 million and conducted test screenings in four markets while preparing to finalize a theatrical release date. The decision was reportedly made by Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios. Amazon MGM Studios had originally planned to release the film in 2027.
The film is directed by Luca Guadagnino (*Call Me by Your Name*) and written by Simon Rich, a former writer for *Saturday Night Live*. It centers on Altman’s firing from and subsequent rehiring by OpenAI, with Andrew Garfield portraying Altman and Ike Barinholtz portraying Elon Musk. As of now, no buyer has stepped forward to acquire the film.
