Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro in Talks For ‘Artificial’

The ‘We Live in Time’ and ‘A Complete Unknown’ actors are in discussions, while the director is making his own deal for the movie based on a true story.

(Left) Director Luca Guadagnino attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ 'Challengers' at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios. (Center Left) Andrew Garfield arrives on the red carpet for the 89th Oscars on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. Photo: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images. (Center Right) Monica Barbaro arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Yura Borisov attends the Governors Ball following the live ABC telecast of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Heather Swift / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Preview:

Luca Guadagnino is setting up new movie ‘Artificial,’ about the OpenAI executive shuffle.
Andrew Garfield, Monica Barbaro and Yura Borisov are in early talks to star.
Simon Rich wrote the script.

What do you do when your big, if unexpected plan to leap from the auteur indie world into the depths of the DC Studios cinematic universe doesn’t turn out quite the way you were thinking?

If you’re ‘After the Hunt.’

Yes, Yura Borisov.

The trade site cautions that while Amazon MGM Studios is eagerly putting the pieces together, none of the deals are yet closed. Still, hopes are high for this one to be shooting in the summer in San Francisco and Italy and Amy Pascal –– is also attached to this.

What’s the story of ‘Artificial’?

Director Luca Guadagnino attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ 'Challengers' at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.

Again, we’d caution that this one is still not completely confirmed. But Guadagnino reportedly considered several scripts before landing on Simon Rich’s (Sam Altman.

He co-founded OpenAI, but in the fall of 2023, after mounting safety concerns regarding AI, and reports of abusive behavior, was ousted as the head of the company by his board.

Five days later, after a revolt, he was reinstated in a story reminiscent of the return of Steve Jobs to Apple.

If all goes as planned, Garfield is eyeing the role of Altman, Barbaro will be chief technology officer Mira Murati, and Borisov could nab the role of Ilya Sutskever, a co-founder who led the movement to get rid of Altman.

Along with Garfield, the new project marks a reunion for Guadagnino and Amazon, having made ‘After the Hunt’ and last year’s sizzling tennis drama ‘Challengers’ for the company.

And the story of a controversial tech executive is not exactly unknown to Garfield, who famously appeared in 'The Social Network.'

What else is Luca Guadagnino working on?

(L to R) Director Luca Guadagnino and producer Amy Pascal attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ 'Challengers' at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.

As talked about above, the director had been busy developing ‘Sgt. Rock,’ which adapts the DC Comics character for the big screen. Colin Farrell to star.

Yet weather conditions have reportedly stymied the production, and the aim is to have it rolling cameras next year.

Beyond that, he has a variety of other potential movies waiting in the wings, including a new adaptation of ‘Separate Rooms.’

He was also considering a ‘Lord of the Flies’ adaptation, but that has vanished into development limbo.

Where else can we see Andrew Garfield?

Andrew Garfield in 'We Live in Time'. Photo: StudioCanal.

Besides ‘After the Hunt,’ Garfield will next be seen in children’s movie ‘Enid Blyton novel about a family discovering a magical tree with eccentric residents. That movie has yet to conjure up a release date.

He’s attached to various other projects, including ‘Voyagers,’ which would see him play astronomer, planetary scientist and TV host Ann Druyan.

There’s also ‘Wild Things,’ the Apple TV+ Jude Law as Siegfried.

Also on his list? ‘The Rage,’ a new Paul Greengrass movie set during the Peasants’ Revolt, a major uprising that took part across large parts of England in 1381 in response to socio-economic and political tensions and high taxation.

Finally, hopes remain that he’ll reunited with his Martin Scorsese for the filmmaker’s ion project ‘The Life of Jesus.’

What other projects does Monica Barbaro have lined up?

Monica Barbaro arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Barbaro, who had a breakout role in Arnold Schwarzenegger.

She also has a role in Bart Layton’s adaptation of Mark Ruffalo.

When will ‘Artificial’ be on screens?

Given that the deals are still being hammered out, Amazon MGM has yet to give this one a release date.

Guadagnino’s latest, the aforementioned ‘After The Hunt,’ which stars Garfield alongside Chloë Sevigny, is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 17th, signaling a potential awards contender.