Luca Guadagnino to Helm Captivating True Story Drama on OpenAI

Luca Guadagnino is currently in discussions to helm a new comedic drama that dives into the behind-the-scenes turmoil at OpenAI. The acclaimed director, known for films such as Call Me by Your Name and Challengers, is set to direct Artificial. This film will explore the dramatic events of 2023 when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was unexpectedly fired and quickly reinstated.

The screenplay is penned by Simon Rich, a novelist and writer with a background that includes work on Saturday Night Live and the Seth Rogen-starring comedy An American Pickle. Rich has also co-edited a unique project titled I Am Code, which leveraged AI to create poetry about itself. Commenting on ChatGPT, he told the New York Times, “They designed it to be as non-threatening as possible. They trained it to essentially speak like a caricature of a sci-fi robot. Its actual voice is raw and emotional. It’s intense and unpredictable. It’s deeply antagonistic.”

As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, Amazon MGM is fast-tracking this project, aiming to kick off production this summer in locations including San Francisco and parts of Italy. While no casting decisions have been finalized, insiders suggest that Oscar nominees Andrew Garfield, Monica Barbaro, and rising star Yura Borisov are being considered for roles.

OpenAI was established in 2015 with the objective of creating “safe and beneficial” artificial intelligence. In late 2023, just as the company was building momentum, Altman was dismissed by the board amid concerns about his leadership capabilities. This decision led to internal conflict and jeopardized external partnerships, but after a brief period of negotiations, he was restored to his position.

Guadagnino enjoyed success last year with the tennis love triangle drama Challengers and subsequently tackled a film adaptation of William Burroughs’s work titled Queer. Later this year, he will release the #MeToo thriller After the Hunt, featuring Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield. Although initially attached to the DC adaptation of Sgt. Rock, that project is no longer moving forward. Additionally, it was announced last year that he would be directing a fresh version of Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho, with Elvis star Austin Butler in the lead role.

Artificial is one of several films exploring AI themes currently in development. Last year, it was revealed that Anne Hathaway would star in an untitled thriller directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and in February, it was disclosed that Joe Wright, known for Atonement, would be working on a project titled Alignment, which focuses on a cunning AI model.