Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Artificial’ Premiere Date and First Look Revealed

Few films this year have sparked as much industry buzz before their release as Luca Guadagnino’s dramatization of OpenAI’s boardroom turmoil. The project has spent months shifting between studios, igniting speculation and raising eyebrows about Hollywood’s willingness to portray one of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures candidly.

This behind-the-scenes drama has arguably become as captivating as the film’s actual narrative. Initially developed and financed by Amazon MGM Studios, the approximately $40 million production was abruptly dropped by the studio in June, shortly after Amazon announced a significant $50 billion investment in OpenAI, raising questions given the film’s less-than-flattering focus.

Now, following a whirlwind acquisition by Neon after that surprising split, ‘Artificial’ finally has a confirmed public premiere. The film will officially debut on October 5 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall as part of the New York Film Festival’s Main Slate, with director Luca Guadagnino expected to attend alongside stars Andrew Garfield, Monica Barbaro, Yura Borisov, and Ike Barinholtz.

The film focuses on the extraordinary five-day corporate crisis that unfolded in November 2023, when OpenAI’s board abruptly fired CEO Sam Altman before reinstating him just days later. Garfield leads the cast as Altman, with Borisov portraying OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, the executive who spearheaded the effort to remove him, while Barbaro plays former chief technology officer Mira Murati and Barinholtz takes on the role of Elon Musk.

Garfield has been notably open about his approach to portraying a still-active, highly scrutinized tech executive without ever meeting him personally. Rather than seeking out Altman directly, the actor crafted his performance entirely from available public records, stating to Esquire U.K. that he relied on “the screenplay, court transcripts, interviews and research” to shape his portrayal.

This method reflects the broader tightrope ‘Artificial’ has had to walk since its inception. NYFF Artistic Director Dennis Lim described the film as finding the right tone to capture how the world arrived at its current moment of AI anxiety, framing Guadagnino’s latest project as both thrilling and deeply human despite its heavy subject matter.

The film’s ensemble cast extends beyond its central quartet, featuring Mark Rylance as AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, along with Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Chris O’Dowd, Billie Lourd, and Zosia Mamet rounding out the supporting cast. Simon Rich penned the screenplay, collaborating with producers David Heyman, Jeffrey Clifford, Guadagnino, Jennifer Fox, and Rich himself.

Amazon’s decision to part ways with a nearly completed production sent shockwaves through the industry when it first broke, especially given the studio’s newly formed financial ties to OpenAI. Multiple distributors reportedly circled the project afterward, with Neon ultimately acquiring worldwide theatrical rights and assuming responsibility for the film’s marketing and distribution costs.

This turbulent journey has only heightened the anticipation surrounding ‘Artificial’s’ eventual release, positioning it as one of the most talked-about entries at this year’s New York Film Festival, which runs from September 25 through October 12. A December theatrical release is currently being targeted for the film following its festival debut.

For a movie centered on the volatile intersection of ambition, technology, and corporate power, ‘Artificial’ has managed to create its own real-world plot twists before audiences have even seen a single frame. Whether the finished film lives up to that behind-the-scenes drama will finally become clear once it debuts at Lincoln Center next month.

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