In a move that’s likely to spark conversations across boardrooms and Twitter threads alike, Amazon MGM Studios is gearing up for Artificial, a comedic drama centered around the world of artificial intelligence—and one of its biggest catalysts, OpenAI. At the heart of this bold project? Emmy-nominated actor Ike Barinholtz, who is reportedly in talks to portray none other than Elon Musk, according to Variety.
Barinholtz, who recently earned an Emmy nod for his performance in The Studio, will step into the shoes of the controversial billionaire who co-founded OpenAI but later became one of its most vocal critics. And if early script rumors are anything to go by, this portrayal may not be Musk-approved.
Tech Turmoil Becomes Screen Gold
Directed by Luca Guadagnino—best known for Bones and All and Challengers—Artificial is shaping up to be more than just a tech biopic. Penned by Simon Rich, the film is said to follow the high-stakes power shake-up at OpenAI in November 2023, when CEO Sam Altman was abruptly fired and sensationally reinstated within days.
While Andrew Garfield is expected to take on the role of Altman, and Russian actor Yura Borisov is reportedly cast as Ilya Sutskever, the OpenAI co-founder who played a key role in the ouster, it’s Barinholtz’s potential turn as Musk that’s generating the most buzz—mainly because the script reportedly paints the Tesla and SpaceX head in less-than-flattering shades.
Entertainment journalist Matthew Belloni, writing for Puck, claims to have seen the early script and warns that both Altman and Musk “will probably hate their portrayals.” Musk, in particular, is said to be depicted as a figure of “comic relief and villainy,” with at least one moment where he’s referred to as a “dictator.”
A Billionaire Satire in the Making
Though Artificial zooms in on OpenAI’s leadership drama, it appears the film won’t stop there. Other high-profile tech players—like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella—are expected to make appearances, adding layers of satirical edge to the unfolding Silicon Valley saga.
For Musk, whose complicated relationship with OpenAI includes co-founding it in 2015 and vocally criticizing it ever since, this cinematic depiction might feel particularly personal. Despite stepping away from the company in 2018, Musk has remained deeply engaged in AI development through his own ventures like Tesla, Neuralink, and xAI. His chatbot Grok, launched on X (formerly Twitter), made headlines recently for its unpredictable responses—adding another twist to his AI legacy.
A 2026 Release That Could Rattle the Valley
With production expected to begin later this year and a planned 2026 release, Artificial promises to offer a sharply scripted, deeply human (and humorous) look into one of the most pivotal tech episodes in recent memory. Backed by powerhouse producers including David Heyman, Jeffrey Clifford, and Jennifer Fox, and distributed by Amazon MGM, the film already has the ingredients of a cultural talking point—even before cameras roll.
And if Elon Musk’s reaction to the final cut is anything like what’s being hinted at, Artificial might just be the movie Silicon Valley didn’t ask for—but might desperately need.
Barinholtz, who recently earned an Emmy nod for his performance in The Studio, will step into the shoes of the controversial billionaire who co-founded OpenAI but later became one of its most vocal critics. And if early script rumors are anything to go by, this portrayal may not be Musk-approved.
Ike Barinholtz has been cast as Elon Musk in Luca Guadagnino’s ‘ARTIFICAL’
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 23, 2025
The film follows the story of the quick firing & rehiring of Open AI CEO Sam Altman, played by Andrew Garfield. pic.twitter.com/gGquUcCgcZ
Tech Turmoil Becomes Screen Gold
Directed by Luca Guadagnino—best known for Bones and All and Challengers—Artificial is shaping up to be more than just a tech biopic. Penned by Simon Rich, the film is said to follow the high-stakes power shake-up at OpenAI in November 2023, when CEO Sam Altman was abruptly fired and sensationally reinstated within days.
While Andrew Garfield is expected to take on the role of Altman, and Russian actor Yura Borisov is reportedly cast as Ilya Sutskever, the OpenAI co-founder who played a key role in the ouster, it’s Barinholtz’s potential turn as Musk that’s generating the most buzz—mainly because the script reportedly paints the Tesla and SpaceX head in less-than-flattering shades.
Entertainment journalist Matthew Belloni, writing for Puck, claims to have seen the early script and warns that both Altman and Musk “will probably hate their portrayals.” Musk, in particular, is said to be depicted as a figure of “comic relief and villainy,” with at least one moment where he’s referred to as a “dictator.”
Jonathan Anderson has confirmed that he will be the costume designer for Luca Guadagnino’s next film ‘ARTIFICIAL.’
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) July 20, 2025
The confirmed cast so far includes Yura Borisov, Andrew Garfield and Cooper Koch. pic.twitter.com/tqQ6y5AMr2
A Billionaire Satire in the Making
Though Artificial zooms in on OpenAI’s leadership drama, it appears the film won’t stop there. Other high-profile tech players—like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella—are expected to make appearances, adding layers of satirical edge to the unfolding Silicon Valley saga.
For Musk, whose complicated relationship with OpenAI includes co-founding it in 2015 and vocally criticizing it ever since, this cinematic depiction might feel particularly personal. Despite stepping away from the company in 2018, Musk has remained deeply engaged in AI development through his own ventures like Tesla, Neuralink, and xAI. His chatbot Grok, launched on X (formerly Twitter), made headlines recently for its unpredictable responses—adding another twist to his AI legacy.
A 2026 Release That Could Rattle the Valley
With production expected to begin later this year and a planned 2026 release, Artificial promises to offer a sharply scripted, deeply human (and humorous) look into one of the most pivotal tech episodes in recent memory. Backed by powerhouse producers including David Heyman, Jeffrey Clifford, and Jennifer Fox, and distributed by Amazon MGM, the film already has the ingredients of a cultural talking point—even before cameras roll.
And if Elon Musk’s reaction to the final cut is anything like what’s being hinted at, Artificial might just be the movie Silicon Valley didn’t ask for—but might desperately need.
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