After Amazon/MGM announced last month its plan to sell its distribution rights to ARTIFICIAL, it was unclear how Luca Guadagnino’s Silicon Valley-based biographical drama would make its way to audiences. That answer came relatively quickly, with news that NEON will be handling its theatrical release. The movie focuses on a chapter in the development of the Artificial Intelligence startup OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman.
After Amazon’s announcement, some wondered whether ARTIFICIAL might suffer the same fate as Warner Bros.’ BATGIRL and be shelved permanently as a tax write-off. Fortunately, NEON wound up reaching a deal to acquire the film, and while they did not announce a specific release date they did confirm that the film would be released theatrically at some point this year in order to qualify for awards consideration.
Amazon had already spent $40 million to produce the movie, which stars Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman, and the film was fully finished. Amazon/MGM film chief Mike Hopkins made the decision to offload the movie after screening it, which is reported to portray Altman in a very negative light. Amazon recently announced a $50 million investment in OpenAI, and many theorized that Amazon walked away from the film to protect its relationship with Altman. With studios like Disney, Paramount and A24 forming relationships with various AI companies, it was uncertain whether any studio would take on a movie that challenged the AI industry so explicitly. But NEON’s lack of direct business ties gave them the flexibility to handle a hot potato release like ARTIFICAL.
