After the postponement of his DC Studios project Sgt. Rock for a full year, director Luca Guadagnino has swiftly stepped into a new venture, entering talks to direct Artificial at Amazon MGM Studios. While final agreements are pending, reports suggest a promising cast, including Andrew Garfield, Monica Barbaro, and emerging star Yura Borisov, are in the early stages of negotiations to join the film.
Though not yet confirmed, sources indicate that Artificial will explore the tumultuous events at the artificial intelligence company OpenAI in 2023, notably the rapid firing and rehiring of CEO Sam Altman. The screenplay was penned by Simon Rich, who will also serve as a producer alongside David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford from Heyday Films. Additionally, Jennifer Fox is reportedly in discussions to produce the project.
Guadagnino, known for his tenacity in filmmaking, was initially preparing to begin filming Sgt. Rock this summer with Colin Farrell set to star. With the workout pushing back a year, the director acted quickly, evaluating several projects before opting for Artificial, demonstrating his adaptability and commitment to his craft.
Although the film is still in development pending deal closures, the intent is to commence shooting later this year. This new project marks a continuation of Guadagnino’s collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios, following his direction of After the Hunt, which features Julia Roberts and set for release on October 10, and Challengers, which debuted theatrically last year.
Producer David Heyman has a strong history with the studio, gearing up for the upcoming James Bond film and having produced all eight cinematic adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, along with the three Fantastic Beasts installments.
Guadagnino is represented by CAA and Range Media Partners, while Garfield is repped by CAA and Gordon & French, Barbaro through UTA and Range, and Borisov via UTA and ColorCreative. Simon Rich is also represented by CAA.
This exciting development highlights Guadagnino’s resilience and creativity as he navigates through changes in the industry, promising a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary AI challenges.