Neon acquires OpenAI drama 'Artificial' after Amazon drops film
The company plans to release the movie later this year and position it as an awards contender during the upcoming Oscar season.
Independent film distributor Neon has acquired "Artificial," director Luca Guadagnino's upcoming drama about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, after Amazon MGM Studios decided not to release the project.
Neon announced yesterday (30 June) that it secured the worldwide rights to the film following a competitive bidding process.
The company plans to release the movie later this year and position it as an awards contender during the upcoming Oscar season.
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The film, with an estimated budget of $40 million, stars Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman and follows the events surrounding Altman's brief dismissal and reinstatement as OpenAI's chief executive in 2023.
The cast also includes Monica Barbaro, Yura Borisov and Academy Award winner Mark Rylance, while Ike Barinholtz portrays Elon Musk.
Amazon MGM unexpectedly dropped the nearly completed film earlier this month, only a few months after Amazon announced a $50 billion investment in OpenAI through a broad, multiyear partnership signed in late February.
At the time, Amazon MGM said the project would be "better served" by another studio and subsequently put the film up for sale.
Neon has built a strong reputation for releasing critically acclaimed films, including Oscar winners Parasite and Anora.
The distributor has also backed each of the last seven Palme d'Or winners at the Cannes Film Festival.
The company did not disclose how much it paid to acquire the worldwide distribution rights.
In a statement, Neon said the deal reflects its commitment to working with visionary filmmakers and bringing ambitious films to audiences around the world.
