AI Drama Movie
Sam Altman recalls seeing actor Andrew Garfield dressed like him on a film set.
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Much of the film was shot in Northern Italy, including at the former Olivetti campus in Ivrea, a site once used to make typewriters, calculators and early personal computers. Director Luca Guadagnino said he was drawn to the region partly because of its industrial locations.
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The cast also includes Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever, who leads the effort to remove Altman, and Mark Rylance as Geoffrey Hinton.
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Garfield said playing Altman fulfilled an itch left by his unsuccessful audition for the role of Mark Zuckerberg in “The Social Network.”
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Screenwriter Simon Rich pitched “Artificial” to Amazon MGM Studios in January 2024 and completed a first draft in May; producers David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford joined the project before Guadagnino came aboard about a year later.
Sam Altman had a surreal moment while Andrew Garfield filmed near his home. Altman saw Garfield dressed like him, carrying the same backpack, and moving with his mannerisms. "It felt like a glitch in a simulation," Altman said Reality Tea. The two waved but never spoke. Garfield stars in "Artificial," a drama about Altman's five-day ouster as OpenAI CEO in 2023 and his swift reinstatement.
The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, will arrive on Christmas Day 2026 through Neon after AOL reports Amazon MGM Studios dropped it. Garfield prepared for the role using the script, court transcripts, and research—never meeting Altman. The actor has questioned the human toll of racing to win in AI development.
Where "Artificial" Was Shot: Italy's Industrial Past
Much of the film was shot in Northern Italy, including at the former Olivetti campus in Ivrea Farout Magazine. Olivetti once made typewriters, calculators, and early personal computers there. Director Guadagnino chose the region partly for its industrial locations. The setting adds layers to a story about technology and innovation.
The Cast Takes Shape Around Altman's Ouster
Yura Borisov plays Ilya Sutskever, the OpenAI researcher who led the effort to remove Altman. Mark Rylance appears as Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneering AI scientist. These supporting roles help frame the five-day power struggle that shocked the tech world in November 2023.
Garfield's Path From Failed Auditions to AI Drama
Playing Altman fulfilled a long-standing itch for Garfield Digg. Years ago, he auditioned unsuccessfully for Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network." This role let him step into the shoes of another tech founder during a critical moment. Garfield has been vocal about his concerns regarding AI's human costs.
How "Artificial" Went From Amazon to Neon
Screenwriter Simon Rich pitched the project to Amazon MGM Studios in January 2024 and finished a first draft by May. Producers David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford joined before Luca Guadagnino came aboard roughly a year later. When Amazon MGM dropped the film, Neon stepped in to distribute it. The shift ensures the film will reach theaters on December 25, 2026.
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