Andrew Garfield initially felt charmed by Sam Altman before he took on the role of the OpenAI CEO in the new film Artificial. The actor shared his evolving perspective on Monday, October 7, during the movie’s world premiere at the New York Film Festival, Variety reported.
Garfield explained that his early impressions of Altman were quite positive. “I remember seeing Sam testifying to Congress for the first time, way back when,” Garfield said. “I was like, ‘This guy seems f—ing great. He’s honest. He’s transparent. He’s talking about regulation, and he has no stake in OpenAI. We need more of these people in control. He’s incredibly charming and charismatic.’ And then you learn more about a person.”
To prepare for the part, Garfield spent two to three months watching and listening to footage of Altman. He noted that he felt a moral responsibility to participate in the project, especially since news stories regarding the potential dangers of AI were appearing daily during filming. Garfield expressed a desire for the film to have even more impact, stating, “We need to shine the light as bright as possible at the nooks and crannies of people we’re giving all of our autonomy and power to.”
The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, chronicles the evolution of OpenAI
The film highlights the chaotic period when Altman was fired and subsequently rehired. While Garfield has experience playing real people, he admits to feeling a sense of empathy regarding how the subject might react to his portrayal. “I feel a tremendous amount of compassion for what that must feel like, being on the inside of his soul, going like, ‘That’s not me,’” Garfield said. “I imagine it would feel confronting. I would feel that way. I’m projecting.”
The real Altman has not seen the film, though he does not seem overly concerned about its accuracy. In an interview, Altman remarked, “I mean, they’re trying to make a good movie, and maybe it will be good,” adding that “it will not be good as an accurate depiction.”
The cast features Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever, Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk, and Cooper Hoffman as Greg Brockman. Barinholtz shared his approach to playing Musk, noting that Guadagnino encouraged him to focus on what the subject loves about himself rather than his own personal opinions on the matter.
Writer Simon Rich explained that his motivation for the script stemmed from warnings he received from his friend Danny Selsam as early as 2008. Rich noted that after Selsam joined OpenAI, the technology he demonstrated became so terrifying that Rich felt compelled to warn the public. He viewed this film as a final attempt to reach people after his previous efforts in journalism failed to gain much traction.
The film has generated significant buzz, particularly after Amazon MGM dropped the production shortly before its completion. This decision followed a $50 billion partnership between Amazon and OpenAI. Neon eventually acquired the rights to the project and scheduled a theatrical release for December 25.
Dennis Lim, the artistic director of the New York Film Festival, noted that the film addresses a pressing, daily reality for many people. According to Lim, the movie captures the current trajectory of AI with alarming clarity while utilizing a dark humor that fits our dystopian present.
Published: Oct 6, 2026 07:30 pm