Sam Altman has shared his thoughts on Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of him in Artificial. The OpenAI CEO does not expect the biographical drama to stick closely to real events, but he believes one part of Garfield’s performance is accurate.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Altman said Garfield’s walk is accurate. “I will say from having watched the trailer, I don’t think they’re going for accuracy,” he said. “Except for the walk.” He recalled seeing the actor outside his San Francisco home during filming, dressed like him and carrying a similar backpack. Altman described the experience as “really weird” and said Garfield had captured his “quirky mannerisms.”
Altman also addressed a scene that takes some creative liberties. The trailer shows Garfield’s version of him rushing into a bunker with guns mounted on the walls. “There’s no bunker with firearms on the wall,” Altman said. He acknowledged that the scene is inaccurate but added that it “did look kind of cool.”
The OpenAI CEO explained that the filmmakers appear to be prioritizing the film over strict accuracy. Altman said, “They’re trying to make a good movie, and maybe it will be good.” He added, “It will not be good as an accurate depiction.”
What is Andrew Garfield’s Artificial movie about?
Luca Guadagnino directs Artificial, with Simon Rich writing the screenplay. The film follows the events surrounding Altman’s removal from OpenAI in November 2023 and his return as CEO five days later. The story also explores the tensions between Altman and OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever during the leadership crisis.
Garfield leads the cast as Altman, with Yura Borisov playing Sutskever and Monica Barbaro portraying former OpenAI interim CEO Mira Murati. Ike Barinholtz plays Elon Musk, while the supporting cast also includes Jason Schwartzman, Cooper Koch, Chris O’Dowd, Cooper Hoffman, Billie Lourd, and Zosia Mamet.
Guadagnino also serves as a producer alongside Rich, Jeffrey Clifford, David Heyman, and Jennifer Fox. Amazon MGM Studios originally developed the film, but Neon later acquired it after Amazon decided not to release it. The decision came after Amazon announced a major partnership with OpenAI.
Artificial had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on October 5, 2026. The film will arrive in theaters on December 25, 2026.
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