Following Amazon MGM’s decision not to release Artificial, a new film by Luca Guadagnino focused on OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Neon is reportedly negotiating to acquire the project. Initially, it appeared that the film would be distributed by Mubi.
This shift comes after industry sources indicated that the film’s sensitive subject matter caused some studios to decline to screen it. A financial agreement for the potential deal has not been disclosed. Amazon MGM announced its decision regarding Artificial two weeks ago. In a statement, the company expressed respect for Guadagnino, stating, “We believe that Artificial will be better served if it were released by a different studio and are working closely with the filmmaking team to find the film a new home.”
While Amazon did not elaborate on the reasons for its decision, it is noteworthy that the company announced a $50 billion investment in OpenAI earlier this year, which may have influenced this outcome.
Although Artificial was well-received during audience testing at Amazon MGM Studios, the studio continues to collaborate with Guadagnino, having worked on four previous projects together, including Suspiria and Bones and All.
Directed by Guadagnino and written by Simon Rich, Artificial delves into the turbulent events of 2023 when Altman was fired and then quickly rehired by OpenAI. Andrew Garfield portrays Altman, supported by a cast that includes Mark Rylance and Billie Lourd.
Representatives from Neon chose not to comment on the discussions, with Puck’s Matt Belloni being the first to report on the acquisition talks.
