Luca Guadagnino's AI Drama 'Artificial' Dropped by Major Studios, Mubi Shows Interest

Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film Artificial, a dramatization of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s 2023 leadership crisis, has lost interest from several major distributors. After private screenings, Focus Features, Warner Bros. Clockwork, A24 and Netflix declined to acquire the project, and Amazon MGM Studios withdrew from its role as the original developer.

The $40 million production, starring Andrew Garfield as Altman and featuring a large ensemble cast, is nearly finished. CAA Media Finance is arranging new screenings to secure a distributor. Independent platform Mubi is reported to be the leading contender, with Neon also rumored to be interested. The film’s future release date remains unconfirmed, and its festival prospects, including Venice, depend on the next distribution deal.

The situation underscores the challenges of bringing a politically sensitive, technology‑centric story to market, as many studios have close ties to the AI industry.