Andrew Garfield Says AI Leaders Are “Creating Our New World” as He Reveals Why He Plays Sam Altman in Artificial

Andrew Garfield has opened up about the curiosity and apprehension that drew him to Artificial, an upcoming film about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the company behind ChatGPT. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film premiered at the London Film Festival on October 11, 2026, bringing the story of one of the world’s most influential artificial intelligence companies to the big screen.

Garfield portrays Altman in a story spanning approximately two decades, exploring OpenAI’s development, its leadership struggles, and the dramatic events surrounding Altman’s temporary removal and subsequent return as CEO in 2023.

In an interview with Reuters, Garfield explained that he wanted to understand the people shaping the next phase of human society. The actor’s comments highlight the film’s central question: who should be held accountable for the technologies transforming the world?

ANDREW GARFIELD EXPLAINS WHY HE TOOK ON THE ROLE OF SAM ALTMAN

Garfield said he approached the project with a mixture of fascination and fear, particularly because the people behind major AI companies are helping shape society’s future.

“There’s a sense of courage and imagination and resilience these people at the top of these companies must have,”

Garfield told Reuters.

The actor also acknowledged the importance of examining influential technology leaders closely. He believes audiences should understand who holds power and how their decisions affect the world.

Despite playing Altman, Garfield did not meet the OpenAI CEO to prepare for the performance. He explained that the film presents an interpretation of Altman and his place in the story rather than a definitive account of his personal life.

Altman previously told Vanity Fair that he did not expect the movie to provide an accurate depiction of him.

ARTIFICIAL EXAMINES OPENAI’S LEADERSHIP CONFLICT AND AI SAFETY

Written by Simon Rich, known for his work on Saturday Night Live, Artificial explores the disagreements that shaped OpenAI’s leadership and development. One of its central conflicts involves Altman and former OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, whose concerns about AI safety became part of the company’s wider leadership tensions.

Yura Borisov plays Sutskever, while Mark Rylance portrays Geoffrey Hinton, the influential computer scientist often called the Godfather of AI. Monica Barbaro appears as former OpenAI technology chief Mira Murati, and Ike Barinholtz plays Elon Musk, who was involved with OpenAI during its early years.

The film’s subject has become increasingly relevant as concerns grow about the risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems. Its focus on the people making decisions about this technology brings questions of accountability, corporate power, and safety into the spotlight.

The BFI London Film Festival’s official film listing describes the movie as a drama about OpenAI’s rise and the ethical dilemmas facing the creators of transformative technology.

MONICA BARBARO SAYS THE STORY KEEPS CHANGING

For Barbaro, portraying a real person involved in an ongoing technological debate presented a unique challenge. The film was shot in 2025, while public discussions surrounding AI companies continued to evolve.

Speaking to Reuters, Barbaro described the experience of watching real-world disagreements unfold online while the cast portrayed the people involved.

She said the subject was exciting but daunting because the actors wanted to remain truthful even as the situation kept changing.

That uncertainty is central to Artificial. Rather than simply documenting the creation of ChatGPT, the film examines the ambitions, conflicts, and responsibilities of the people driving AI development.

With Garfield leading the cast, Guadagnino’s film brings a contemporary technology story to cinema at a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing public debate.