Amazon’s Movie Arm Abandons Film About OpenAI

Amazon MGM Studios had intended to release the film in 2027, said one of the people with knowledge of the company’s plans. The film team, the person said, intended for it to premiere at the SXSW Film TV Festival. Other award season contenders, including “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” debuted there.

As part of Amazon’s investment into OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company agreed to use chips designed by Amazon. OpenAI also has a deal to use Amazon’s cloud computing services.

“Artificial” was directed by Luca Guadagnino, the filmmaker behind “Call Me by Your Name,” who has worked repeatedly with Amazon MGM Studios, including on “After the Hunt” and “Challengers.” His agents at Creative Artists Agency screened the movie on Wednesday and Thursday for other potential distributors, including indie film companies like Neon, A24 and Focus, along with Netflix and Warner Bros.’ new specialty division Clockwork. No one has bought it yet, the people said.

The film was written by the “Saturday Night Live” alum Simon Rich. It focuses on Mr. Altman’s firing and rehiring at OpenAI, one of the world’s largest A.I. companies. Andrew Garfield plays Mr. Altman, and Ike Barinholtz portrays Elon Musk.

One movie news site reporting from an earlier test screening described the film as “‘The Social Network,’ but for the A.I. era.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/19/business/media/amazon-openai-artificial-movie-sam-altman.html