Neon Drops Chilling First Trailer for Luca Guadagnino's Sam Altman Biopic
Neon has released a teaser for the film 'Artificial,' directed by Luca Guadagnino, which depicts Sam Altman's life with a horror-like atmosphere. Andrew Garfield stars as Altman, with Monica Barbaro as Mira Murati and Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk. The project was previously dropped by Amazon after test screenings.
The teaser leans into a chilling aesthetic, showing Garfield's Altman navigating shadowy hallways and a weapon-filled safe room, accompanied by whispered dialogue about opening a metaphorical box and guiding people into a new era. The ensemble includes Barbaro as Murati, Barinholtz as Musk, and several other prominent actors.
The project's release was nearly derailed when Amazon withdrew in June 2026 following private test screenings, shortly after committing $50 billion to OpenAI. Neon later acquired the film, scheduling a Christmas Day theatrical debut. The article also notes OpenAI's earlier closure of its Sora application.
This horror-tinged biopic could significantly shape public perception of AI leadership, framing tech pioneers as unsettling figures who wield immense power. Audiences may become more skeptical of rapid AI advancements, while the corporate drama involving Amazon's investment and subsequent withdrawal could highlight tensions between financial interests and critical storytelling, potentially influencing how tech companies handle future media portrayals.