Amazon has quietly stepped away from distributing a potentially unflattering biopic about Sam Altman just as it tightens its business ties with Altman’s company. The streamer confirmed it dropped Artificial, saying only that the film “will be better served if it were released by a different studio,” reports the Guardian. In test screenings, the film’s portrayal of Altman by Andrew Garfield was not seen as positive, according to Puck. The same is reportedly true for Ike Barinholtz’s portrayal of Elon Musk.
The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, centers on Altman’s 2023 ouster and rapid return at OpenAI. It’s due for wide release in 2027, though the movie is now in urgent need of a studio. The surprise move follows a newly announced multibillion-dollar partnership between Amazon and OpenAI.