Director Luca Guadagnino Unfazed by Amazon’s Surprise Exit from OpenAI Drama

Luca Guadagnino is taking Amazon MGM Studios’ decision to drop his upcoming film Artificial in stride. Speaking publicly for the first time since the studio exited the project, the acclaimed director said the move did not surprise him. Luca Guadagnino believes corporate interests have long influenced Hollywood.

“These industrial policies are not new,” Guadagnino said, suggesting that major companies have shaped the entertainment industry for years.

Amazon MGM Studios dropped Artificial earlier this month, even though the film was nearly complete. The decision came days after Amazon announced a multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI. The timing fueled speculation that the company’s ties to the AI firm played a role. Amazon, however, denied any connection between the investment and its decision to abandon the film.

Guadagnino avoided criticizing the studio directly. Instead, he said shifting corporate priorities are part of the movie business. Filmmakers, he added, often have to adjust when studios change course, even late in production.

Written by Simon Rich, Artificial chronicles the leadership crisis at OpenAI. The film centers on CEO Sam Altman’s brief ouster and swift return in late 2023. Andrew Garfield stars as Altman. Monica Barbaro, Mark Rylance, and Ike Barinholtz, who plays Elon Musk, round out the cast.

The film reportedly takes a sharp look at Silicon Valley power struggles. It also explores the personalities behind one of the technology industry’s biggest boardroom dramas.

After losing Amazon as its distributor, Artificial is searching for a new home. Netflix and Focus Features have reportedly passed on the project. Independent distributors Mubi and Neon are still said to be considering it.

Despite the setback, Guadagnino remains optimistic. He believes audiences will eventually see Artificial. As the search continues, many industry observers see the film’s uncertain future as another sign of the growing tension between Hollywood and Silicon Valley.