Amazon MGM drops release of Sam Altman film Artificial

Amazon MGM Studios has dropped its planned release of "Artificial," a nearly completed film about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and is now seeking a new distributor for the project. The decision, confirmed on June 19, 2026, was made by Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.

The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Andrew Garfield as Altman, dramatizes the turbulent period in November 2023 when Altman was abruptly fired from OpenAI and rehired four days later. The ensemble cast includes Yura Borisov as OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk, and Monica Barbaro as former chief technology officer Mira Murati.

In a statement, Amazon said it has "the utmost respect and admiration" for Guadagnino and is working with the filmmaking team to find the project a new home. The company did not disclose a specific reason for exiting the distribution deal. However, sources familiar with the matter said the tone of the finished film was significantly darker than what was originally scripted by writer Simon Rich or pitched by Guadagnino, which contributed to the decision.

The move comes months after Amazon announced a major strategic partnership with...