Neon acquires OpenAI biopic 'Artificial' after Amazon drops it

Indie distributor Neon has purchased worldwide rights to "Artificial," the Luca Guadagnino film that dramatizes the 2023 ousting and reinstatement of OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. The $40 million production, starring Andrew Garfield as Altman, Monica Barbaro as Mira Murati, Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever and Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk, was originally slated for release by Amazon MGM Studios.

Amazon, which recently announced a $50 billion strategic partnership with OpenAI, withdrew the nearly‑finished movie, saying it would be better served by a different studio. Neon announced it will release "Artificial" later this year and will mount an awards‑season campaign aimed at the Oscars. The film may debut at major festivals such as Venice or SXSW, following its withdrawal from a planned SXSW premiere.

Neon's acquisition underscores its track record of handling prestige titles, including recent Oscar winners and Cannes Palme d’Or selections.