Oscar nominee Monica Barbaro is officially set to star in Luca Guadagnino’s “Artificial” for Amazon MGM Studios.
Barbaro — whose casting had been rumored, but whose deal is now closed — joins previously reported stars Andrew Garfield, Yura Borisov, Jason Schwartzman, Cooper Hoffman and Cooper Koch. Ike Barinholtz remains in talks to join the cast.
Plot details for “Artificial,” described as a “comedic drama set in the world of artificial intelligence,” are being kept under wraps. However, early reports suggest that it will center around the company OpenAI and the tumultuous period in 2023 when its CEO Sam Altman was fired and rehired in just a few days. Garfield has been reported to portray Altman with “Anora” standout Borisov as Iya Stuskever, an OpenAI co-founder who led the movement to get rid of Altman.
Simon Rich wrote the script and will produce alongside Heyday Films’ David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford, as well as Jennifer Fox.
Earlier this year, Barbaro earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of legendary folk singer and activist Joan Baez in “A Complete Unknown,” which followed her breakout role as the fighter pilot Phoenix in “Top Gun: Maverick.” She’ll next star in Amazon MGM’s “Crime 101” opposite Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Barry Keoghan, and make her stage debut in a revival of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” at London’s National Theatre. Barbaro is represented by UTA, Range Media Partners, Narrative and Meyer & Downs.
“Artificial” also marks the latest collaboration between Guadagnino and Amazon MGM following “After the Hunt.” The drama, starring Julia Roberts, Garfield and Ayo Edebiri, will debut at Venice Film Festival before its theatrical release on Oct. 10. Guadagnino’s history with the studio also includes 2024’s “Challengers,” 2022’s “Bones and All” and 2018’s “Suspiria.”