Elon Musk to be played by Emmy nominee Ike Barinholtz in OpenAI comedy-drama ‘Artificial’ |
In a casting move already sparking buzz, Emmy-nominated actor Ike Barinholtz is set to portray tech magnate Elon Musk in Artificial, an upcoming comedy-drama from acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino. The film, currently in development at Amazon MGM Studios, revolves around the chaotic few days in November 2023 when Sam Altman was fired and swiftly reinstated as CEO of OpenAI. Known for his roles in The Studio and as co-creator of Running Point, Barinholtz’s casting hints at a satirical tone, with Musk reportedly appearing in scenes described as both comic relief and villainous. The project also stars Andrew Garfield as Altman and Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever, bringing high drama and tech-world intrigue to the big screen.
Elon Musk’s screen time in Artificial: Comic relief or corporate villain?
According to leaked script details reported by Puck’s Matthew Belloni, Elon Musk is portrayed in scenes of “villainy and comic relief.” At one point, the script allegedly refers to him as a “dictator.” While Musk only appears in a few scenes, his presence looms large. As a co-founder of OpenAI who left in 2018 and later launched rival company xAI, Musk’s relationship with the firm has soured in recent years. He’s currently embroiled in legal battles with OpenAI, making his on-screen depiction all the more intriguing.
A tech soap opera: What Artificial is about
Artificial dramatizes the real-life events surrounding OpenAI’s surprise firing of Sam Altman in November 2023. The company’s board claimed Altman was not “consistently candid,” prompting internal turmoil that saw hundreds of employees threaten to quit. Within days, Altman was reinstated following overwhelming staff and investor pressure. Guadagnino’s film is said to focus on this high-stakes corporate power play, blending humor and tension to explore the growing pains of one of the world’s most influential AI companies.
The real drama between Elon Musk and OpenAI
Musk has repeatedly criticized OpenAI, accusing it of betraying its non-profit roots and forming a “closed-source” partnership with Microsoft. In 2024, he filed a lawsuit claiming he was misled into co-founding the company. His $97.4 billion takeover bid in 2025 was publicly rejected by Altman, who cheekily responded on social media: “No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.” OpenAI has since countersued, accusing Musk of launching harassing legal claims and damaging its reputation.
Behind the camera: Big names and big ambitions
Director Luca Guadagnino, known for Call Me By Your Name and Challengers, brings an auteur’s eye to the chaos of Silicon Valley. The film is written by Simon Rich, former Saturday Night Live writer and creator of An American Pickle. With Andrew Garfield, Monica Barbaro, and Yura Borisov also reportedly cast, Artificial is shaping up to be both a sharp satire and a timely commentary on power, ego, and the future of AI.Artificial is expected to begin filming later in 2025 with a planned release sometime in 2026. While still in development, the film has already captured public curiosity, especially given its portrayal of some of the most powerful and controversial figures in tech today.
