Amazon MGM Drops Luca Guadagnino’s AI Drama ‘Artificial’, Prompting Distributor Search

Amazon MGM Studios withdrew from the nearly finished film "Artificial," a $40‑$95 million drama about OpenAI’s 2023 board turmoil starring Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman. Amazon cited brand‑strategy concerns and denied that the subject matter drove the decision, leaving the project without a distributor.

Following Amazon’s exit, major buyers such as Focus Features, Warner Bros., A24 and Netflix also passed on acquiring the film. Independent platforms Mubi and Neon have emerged as potential new distributors, with Mubi positioning the title for a possible Venice premiere.

The pull has triggered financial and legal ramifications: the $12 million marketing budget is in limbo, crew wages and unfinished‑work claims total millions, and OpenAI’s stock fell about 5 % after the news. The film’s release schedule, originally slated for a 2026 festival debut and Prime Video streaming, now remains uncertain.