NEON has acquired the rights to Guadagnino's new film about OpenAI Following Amazon's recent withdrawal from the production

The next film by Luca Guadagnino is officially back on track. After being dropped by Amazon MGM Studios in recent weeks, Artificial — the film about OpenAI's internal crisis and the controversial firing of Sam Altman in 2023 — has found a new home: NEON will distribute it worldwide. The acquisition, announced by Deadline, immediately relaunches the project in the race for the upcoming awards season, with its sights set on the most coveted trophies.

Written by Simon Rich and directed by Guadagnino, the film stars Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman and Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk, chronicling the turbulent days of November 2023 that led to the firing and subsequent reinstatement of the OpenAI CEO, as control over the technology at the heart of the global artificial intelligence race hung in the balance. Having wrapped filming last autumn, Artificial will officially enter this year's Oscar campaign. According to Deadline, the film could also premiere at the Venice Film Festival, which in recent years has frequently showcased the director's work.

The plot of Artificial, Luca Guadagnino's film about OpenAI

The film focuses on one of the most chaotic moments in recent Silicon Valley history: the events of November 2023, when OpenAI's board of directors abruptly fired Sam Altman, only to reinstate him a few days later following an uprising from employees, investors, and strategic partners. The screenplay is written by Simon Rich, a writer who has worked on Saturday Night Live and at Pixar.

Just last week, several months after wrapping production, the film was dropped by Amazon MGM Studios, which had been set to handle its distribution. The decision comes at a particularly sensitive time, given that Amazon recently strengthened its business ties with OpenAI through a deal worth more than $50 billion.