Andrew Garfield Expresses Concern Over Public Reaction to Portraying OpenAI Founder Sam Altman

POLICY WIRE — New York, United States — Actor Andrew Garfield has expressed concern about potential public backlash for his role as OpenAI and ChatGPT founder Sam Altman in the upcoming film...

Editorial Desk

September 8, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — New York, United States — Actor Andrew Garfield has expressed concern about potential public backlash for his role as OpenAI and ChatGPT founder Sam Altman in the upcoming film ‘Artificial’.

The movie, directed by Luca Guadagnino, follows Altman during his dismissal and subsequent return to OpenAI in 2023. Garfield shared his apprehension about the film’s reception in a recent interview with the SmartLess podcast, stating he is ‘really scared’ about the reaction.

Garfield emphasized that he does not know Altman personally and relied on research, imagination, and the script to shape his portrayal. He also noted that the film aims to explore the complexities of human behavior rather than portray anyone as a hero or villain.

Earlier this year, Amazon MGM Studios withdrew as the film’s distributor, leaving it to be picked up by Neon. Garfield said he was neither surprised nor upset by the decision, citing the support he received from Amazon throughout production.

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Co-star Cooper Hoffman, who plays OpenAI chairman Greg Brockman, said he was not surprised by Amazon’s decision, adding that he was happy Neon took on the project. The film features a star-studded cast including Monica Barbaro, Mark Rylance, and Zosia Mamet.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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