Amazon refuses to distribute Sam Altman film after $50 billion OpenAI investment

Amazon MGM Studios has decided to drop Luca Guadagnino's new film "Artificial", which tells the story of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's 2023 firing. The decision comes just a few months after Amazon invested $50 billion in OpenAI. The director is now seeking a new distributor for the film.

Amazon MGM Studios announced on 19 June 2026 that it would not distribute Luca Guadagnino's new film "Artificial", which covers OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's dramatic 2023 firing and reinstatement. Puck initially reported the decision, followed by confirmation from Variety.

Why is Amazon backing out?

The decision coincides with a significant business transaction: in February, it was revealed that Jeff Bezos' Amazon would invest up to $50 billion in AI developer OpenAI. The partnership involves closer collaboration between Amazon Web Services and OpenAI and joint work on developing customised AI models. In the eyes of critics, it is hard not to see a connection: the film portrays Altman in an unfavourable light, and Amazon is now his business partner.

Amazon itself said through a spokesperson that the company "respects and admires" Guadagnino's talent and hopes to maintain a relationship with him. "We believe the film will be better served by another studio. We are working closely with the filmmakers to find it a new home," Amazon MGM Studios said.

The film is nearly complete

"Artificial" is essentially finished, closed test screenings have already taken place, and the film was originally planned to be released by the end of 2026. Andrew Garfield, known for "The Social Network" and "The Amazing Spider-Man", plays Sam Altman in the lead role. Among the other major cast members, Monica Barbaro plays former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati, Yura Borisov plays scientist Ilya Sutskever, and Ike Barinholtz plays Elon Musk.

Sources from Puck who have seen the film describe it as dark: the characters of Altman and Musk evoke the least sympathy from viewers. The film's screenplay, written by former SNL writer Simon Rich, portrays Altman as a two-faced schemer unconcerned with humanity's welfare, only with power. According to sources from Variety, the finished film is even darker than an earlier version of the script. Studio head Mike Hopkins watched a working version and decided, as Puck writes, to "pull the plug".

Broader political context

The film's fate reflects a wider tension in Hollywood. Both Altman and Bezos are simultaneously seeking to maintain good relations with the Donald Trump administration. In February, Amazon released the Melania Trump documentary to cinemas, investing a total of $75 million in the project.

According to Puck, Hollywood directors fear that in the current political climate, many sensitive projects will end up in a drawer. In the autumn, Sony plans to release "The Social Reckoning", Aaron Sorkin's follow-up to "The Social Network", which tells the story of Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg. According to Sorkin, Sony's lawyers have already made it clear to the film crew: "Be careful."

Guadagnino, whose films include "Call Me By Your Name" and "Suspiria", is now looking for a new distributor for the film. Amazon has promised to assist in this search.