Artificial, an upcoming film about OpenAI, has found its Elon Musk. Last month, it was announced that director Luca Guadagnino’s next movie would be a “comedic drama set in the world of artificial intelligence.” It’s rumored to revolve around the company OpenAI and the tumultuous period in 2023 when its CEO, Sam Altman, was fired and rehired in just a few days.

The upcoming movie has already cast Andrew Garfield, who is expected to play Sam Altman, and recent Oscar nominee Yura Borisov (Anora), reportedly cast as Ilya Stuskever, an OpenAI co-founder who spearheaded the effort to remove Altman. Monica Barbaro, who also recently received an Oscar nomination for A Complete Unknown, was also reportedly in talks for an undisclosed role.

Now, according to Variety, The Studio star Ike Barinholtz is in talks to play Elon Musk in Luca Guadagnino’s OpenAI movie, тιтled Artificial. The actor is still reportedly “in talks” for the role, so it doesn’t seem like a deal has been officially finalized quite yet.

What This Means For The Artificial Movie

What Role Did Elon Musk Play In OpenAI?

Though Elon Musk is now an incredibly controversial figure due to his support and subsequent falling out with President Donald Trump, Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial film will reportedly be set years before that, in 2023. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but eventually parted ways with the company due to his dissatisfaction with its direction and leadership, and formed his own company called xAI.

Even though Musk had formally cut ties with OpenAI years earlier, his shadow still loomed large over the company in 2023. As the AI race intensified, Musk frequently criticized OpenAI on social media and in interviews, questioning its safety practices and transparency. In the film, Musk could serve as a disruptive outsider, someone whose public provocations intensify OpenAI’s internal crisis during Altman’s ouster.

Ike Barinholtz is a comedian fresh off his Emmy-nominated role as executive Sal Saperstein in The Studio, Apple TV’s Hollywood satire, though he’s also known for his roles in the TV shows Eastbound & Down, The Mindy Project, The Afterparty, and the movies Blockers and Neighbors. Considering Barinholtz’s casting as Musk and its description as a “comedic drama,” it appears the movie may lean into satire.

Our Take On Ike Barinholtz’s Casting As Elon Musk

Is He A Good Choice?

Barinholtz may not bear a strong physical resemblance to Musk, but his background in satirical comedy makes him an intriguing and potentially strong casting choice. Comedians often excel at impressions, and Barinholtz’s knack for sharp satire in The Studio suggests that Artificial may present Musk not as a realistic portrait, but as a biting caricature.

Source: Variety