NEW YORK (AP) — Indie distributor Neon has picked up ‘Artificial,’ a film by Luca Guadagnino. Initially handled by Amazon MGM Studios, the $40 million project was dropped earlier this month. Amazon’s decision came not long after announcing a $50 billion investment in OpenAI, which is featured in the film.
Starring Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman of OpenAI, ‘Artificial’ was nearly complete when Amazon parted ways with it. They suggested the film would benefit from a different distributor. Neon plans to release ‘Artificial’ this year, aiming for an Oscar entry. The film centers on Altman’s firing and reinstatement as OpenAI’s CEO in 2023.
The cast includes Monica Barbaro, Yura Borisov, and Mark Rylance, who won an Academy Award. Ike Barinholtz appears as Elon Musk. This move follows Amazon’s multiyear partnership with OpenAI in February, but they recently put the film on sale.
Neon boasts a strong awards record with films like ‘Parasite’ and ‘Anora.’ The company has supported the last seven Palme d’Or winners at the Cannes Film Festival. Neon has not disclosed the acquisition cost for ‘Artificial’ but emphasized its dedication to partnering with visionary filmmakers. They aim to offer ambitious cinema worldwide.