Major studios reportedly pass on distributing Guadagnino’s Sam Altman film

In short: Several major studios have reportedly decided not to distribute Artificial, a new film about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, after Amazon MGM dropped it.

What happened

Netflix, A24, Focus Features, and Warner Bros.’ Clockwork have reportedly passed on distribution deals for Artificial, according to reporting cited by The Verge. The movie is a biographical drama directed by Luca Guadagnino, and it focuses on Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT (a popular AI chatbot, which is software you can talk to like a messaging app).

The change comes after Amazon MGM unexpectedly said last week that it no longer planned to distribute the film. The Verge reported that postproduction, meaning the final editing, sound, and finishing work, was nearly complete.

Amazon did not give a detailed reason. It told Deadline that the film would be “better served if it were released by a different studio.” Neon and Mubi are still said to be interested in picking it up.

The Verge also notes the timing. Amazon previously announced a $50 billion investment into OpenAI earlier this year. That is a major business tie, like a company becoming a large stakeholder in a partner’s success.

Why it matters

Movies about powerful companies can shape how the public understands them, similar to how a biography can influence how you see a famous person. When large studios and a major distributor step away from a film about a current tech executive, it raises questions about whether business relationships are making entertainment companies more cautious about telling critical stories.

Source: The Verge AI