Luca Guadagnino to Direct Film on Sam Altman’s OpenAI Saga

Los Angeles, California – Director Luca Guadagnino is set to helm a new film titled Artificial, which will depict the dramatic events surrounding OpenAI in 2023, including the firing and quick reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman. Sources say Guadagnino is in talks to finalize the project, which is being produced at Amazon MGM Studios.

The film, with a screenplay by Simon Rich, is being fast-tracked for production this summer, with filming locations planned for San Francisco and Italy. Notable producers include David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford from Heyday Films, along with Jennifer Fox, who is also reportedly joining the team.

Current reports suggest that Andrew Garfield is in early discussions to portray Altman, with other actors such as Monica Barbaro and Yura Borisov considered for pivotal roles. The casting is underway but remains contingent on Guadagnino’s final deal.

Sam Altman, who co-founded OpenAI, faced a leadership crisis in late 2023 when he was ousted amid safety concerns regarding artificial intelligence. Just five days later, following employee backlash, he was reinstated. Sources indicate that Garfield may play Altman, while Barbaro could portray Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, and Borisov might take on the role of co-founder Ilya Sutskever.

This project marks Guadagnino’s third collaboration with Amazon MGM, following his directorial work on After the Hunt and Challengers. The release dates for these films have generated considerable interest, as both garnered substantial attention in Hollywood.

As production on Artificial gears up, it appears that Guadagnino’s new endeavor is set to kick off before his previously planned film, Sgt. Rock, which was scrapped earlier due to timing concerns.