Overview
- Amazon MGM confirmed on June 19 that it would not release Luca Guadagnino’s nearly finished film Artificial and said it is working with the filmmakers to find a new distributor.
- The movie was shot in part in San Francisco, cost about $40 million, was written by Simon Rich and stars Andrew Garfield as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and it had positive test screenings in multiple markets.
- Amazon announced a major strategic investment in OpenAI on Feb. 27, and multiple outlets have linked the timing of that $50 billion deal to industry explanations for the studio’s exit.
- CAA Media Finance is shopping the film and several major buyers — including Netflix, A24, Focus Features and Warner’s Clockwork — reportedly passed, with Mubi and Neon among the leading suitors.
- Filmmakers say they hope the movie will find a home, and the episode has intensified debate about how big tech partnerships may shape which AI-related stories reach wide audiences and awards voters.