Andrew Garfield Portrays Sam Altman in Luca Guadagnino's Film Artificial

Andrew Garfield's portrayal of Sam Altman in Luca Guadagnino's new film "Artificial has sparked a mix of fascination and unease among audiences. The actor revealed he was initially charmed by Altman before delving deeper into the CEO's character.

I remember seeing Sam testifying to Congress for the first time, Garfield said at the movie's world premiere, describing Altman as 'honest', 'transparent' and 'charismatic'. He praised Altman's willingness to discuss regulation without any apparent conflict of interest. This perception was soon shattered, however, as more about Altman came to light.

Garfield spent several months researching Altman, watching footage and listening to interviews before bringing the character to life on screen. He felt a strong sense of moral responsibility to participate in the film, which sheds light on the inner workings of OpenAI during tumultuous times.

The actor expressed his desire for Artificial to have an even greater impact, highlighting the need to scrutinize those entrusted with significant power and autonomy. Garfield acknowledged that the film's portrayal of Altman is just one aspect of a broader exploration of AI's influence on society.

At the world premiere in New York City's Lincoln Center, Guadagnino was joined by the cast, including Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever and Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk. The movie charts OpenAI's evolution and dramatizes the events surrounding Altman's firing and rehiring.

The film's release coincided with ongoing discussions about AI's risks and consequences, making Artificial a timely and thought-provoking addition to the conversation.

Andrew Garfield has a knack for playing real-life individuals on screen, having previously portrayed Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network" and composer Jonathan Larson in "Tick, Tick... Boom. He takes this responsibility seriously.

When asked about his portrayal of OpenAI's Sam Altman, Garfield expressed empathy for the experience of being depicted by an actor. He imagined how it would feel to see someone else portray him so intimately, saying he would likely find it confronting.

In contrast, Altman himself seems unfazed by the film, having not yet seen it. When asked about its accuracy, he downplayed expectations, suggesting that even if it's well-made, it won't be a faithful depiction of his personality.

Co-star Oleg Borisov, who played Ilya Sutskever in the film, shared some of Garfield's trepidation. He admitted to being nervous about how the real-life Sutskever and the public would react to their portrayal on screen.

Comedian Adam Barinholtz, however, appears more relaxed about his own depiction as Elon Musk.

The satirical comedy Artificial has been making waves for its uncanny portrayals of tech moguls and their inner workings. Comedian Luca Rich's take on Elon Musk's persona is particularly noteworthy, as it captures a pivotal moment in the entrepreneur's life.

Rich's inspiration for the character came from his childhood friend Danny Selsam, who had been warning him about artificial intelligence since 2008. Initially, Rich and their friends were skeptical of Selsam's claims, even considering an intervention to have him medicated or institutionalized. However, when Selsam joined OpenAI, a nonprofit organization focused on AI research, his warnings gained more credibility.

Selsam's involvement with OpenAI marked a turning point in his interactions with Rich and their friends. They began to take his predictions about the dangers of AI more seriously, particularly after he started sharing his findings on his computer. The content was so alarming that it prompted Rich to warn others, but his attempts were met with skepticism by journalists who suspected a prank.

Rich's friend Selsam had been showing him unsettling information on his computer even before ChatGPT's release by OpenAI. This exposure left an indelible mark on Rich, prompting him to share the disturbing content with journalists. However, these initial warnings fell on deaf ears as many dismissed them as a hoax.

The Artificial comedy is set against the backdrop of 2014, a time when Musk was basking in admiration from the public for his innovative ventures and vision for the future. Rich's portrayal of Musk during this period offers an intriguing glimpse into the entrepreneur's psyche at that moment in time.

The public's response to Rich's warnings about the dangers of advanced technology was underwhelming. Despite his efforts to raise awareness through columns in prominent publications like Time magazine, his message fell on deaf ears.

Rich has acknowledged that his lack of charisma and physical appearance made it difficult for him to get attention, leading him to write Artificial as a last-ditch effort to warn the public about the potential risks. He hopes that his film will be taken seriously by at least a few people.

The release of Artificial was marked by controversy when Amazon MGM dropped the nearly completed film, suggesting it would be better suited for another studio. This decision came after Amazon had already signed a major partnership with OpenAI, worth $50 billion. The move raised eyebrows given the close ties between OpenAI's Sam Altman and Amazon chief Jeff Bezos.

Altman has been friends with Bezos since attending his wedding to Lauren Sanchez in 2025. This personal connection may have played a role in Amazon's decision to drop Artificial. Despite this setback, the film was eventually picked up by Neon, which plans to release it in theaters on December 25.

The world premiere of Artificial at the New York Film Festival (NYFF) was a coup for artistic director Dennis Lim. The festival's plans for the movie were uncertain until the last minute, with Lim describing them as genuinely up-in-the-air. Despite these challenges, NYFF has a history of showcasing Guadagnino's work, having premiered several of his films in prior years.

The New York Film Festival (NYFF) has provided a platform for Guadagnino's work in the past, premiering several of his films prior to this latest offering.

The film festival organizers had initially envisioned NYFF as an ideal launchpad for Artificial", given its timely and thought-provoking exploration of AI's rapid development and its implications on society.