Netflix, Focus Pass on $40 Million 'Artificial' as Amazon MGM Seeks New Studio
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 21
Netflix, Focus Pass on $40 Million 'Artificial' as Amazon MGM Seeks New Studio
3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 21
Summary
Netflix and Focus Features declined to acquire Luca Guadagnino’s nearly completed “Artificial” after Amazon MGM abruptly dropped the $40 million OpenAI drama; A24 has screened it, while Mubi is still looking.
Amazon said Friday the film would be better served by another studio and is working with the filmmakers to find a buyer, even as test screenings reportedly drew a warm reception.
The reversal came months after Amazon committed $50 billion to OpenAI, and reports said the movie’s portrayals of Sam Altman and Elon Musk were not entirely flattering.
“Artificial” dramatizes Altman’s 2023 firing and reinstatement at OpenAI and stars Andrew Garfield as Altman, Ike Barinholtz as Musk and Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever.