Luca Guadagnino’s new film, Artificial, reimagines the turbulent week in November 2023 when OpenAI’s board briefly removed — then reinstated — CEO Sam Altman. The film, which opens in U.S. theaters on Christmas Day, draws fresh attention to how filmmakers are interpreting the human drama behind rapid advances in artificial intelligence.
Portraying a polarizing figure
Actor Ike Barinholtz, who plays Elon Musk in the ensemble drama, says he approached the role with two competing aims: to convey an edge that unsettles the characters around him, while also leaving room for a sense of theatrical excess when viewed from afar.
Speaking to Discussing Film, Barinholtz described crafting scenes in which his version of Musk operates “behind the curtain” — private, intense moments that are meant to register as threatening in tight shots but, when seen in the context of the larger story, take on a slightly exaggerated quality. The performance seeks to capture how Silicon Valley figures can appear both influential and performative.
What the film covers
Written by Simon Rich and directed by Guadagnino, Artificial dramatizes the rapid boardroom upheaval at OpenAI in November 2023, when Altman was dismissed and returned to the company within five days. The film centers on that episode as a way to probe leadership, accountability and the high-stakes politics around AI development.
- Director: Luca Guadagnino
- Writer: Simon Rich
- Subject: OpenAI board’s Nov. 2023 removal and rehiring of Sam Altman
- Lead: Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman
- Release: U.S. theatrical premiere, Christmas Day
The ensemble cast also includes Yura Borisov, Monica Barbaro, Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Chris O’Dowd, Mark Rylance, Zosia Mamet, Cooper Koch and Billie Lourd, reflecting the film’s focus on both public figures and the people working around them.
Why this matters now
Artificial arrives at a moment when public scrutiny of AI companies and their leaders remains high. By dramatizing a real corporate crisis, the film invites viewers to consider the human choices behind technological power and how reputation, governance and personality influence public trust.
For audiences, the movie offers more than a retelling of headlines: it’s a character-driven look at how the personalities steering tech firms can shape decisions with global consequences.
Whether viewers are drawn by the performances, the portrayal of boardroom conflict, or the broader questions about AI stewardship, Guadagnino’s film positions itself as a cultural response to one of the most consequential debates of the decade.
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Hello, I’m Declan. I share my film reviews and discoveries with you to enrich your moviegoing experience.