Garfield on Amazon dropping Artificial, Neon acquires film

Actor Andrew Garfield has expressed his perspective on the behind-the-scenes journey of the film "Artificial," a comedic drama about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, which recently found a new distributor after being dropped by Amazon MGM Studios. The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, chronicles the dramatic firing and swift rehiring of Altman in November 2023. Garfield stars as Altman in the project, which was acquired by the independent studio Neon last month.

Garfield, speaking while promoting another film, described a nuanced reaction to Amazon's decision to withdraw from distributing the nearly completed project. He stated he was both surprised and not surprised, framing the move as a matter of fit. He emphasized that Amazon executives were supportive during production and helped facilitate the transition to a new home. Garfield expressed excitement about partnering with Neon, calling it a daring studio and a good fit for the film.

Amazon MGM Studios announced its decision in June, stating in a release that it believed "Artificial" would be "better served if it were released by a different studio" and that it was working to find the film a new home. The move followed the company's...