He’s Barely in It, But Musk Might Be the Most Memorable Part of 'Artificial' — Here Is Why
A bold casting choice sets the tone for everything.
There’s been no shortage of AI dramas lately, but Artificial, Luca Guadagnino’s new film, stood out to me — partly because of the story, mostly because of the casting.
Actor Ike Barinholtz, best known for comedic roles in The Mindy Project and Blockers, has been cast as Elon Musk in Guadagnino’s new film. And no, this isn't a Saturday Night Live sketch — though it very well could be.
The film, produced by Amazon/MGM, revisits the chaos of the 2023 OpenAI crisis — specifically, the brief removal and swift reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman.
It offers a glimpse into boardroom drama and AI power struggles. Musk, though, shows up in just five scenes.
Still, his brief role carries weight. In Simon Rich’s script, Musk is shown as an early OpenAI supporter turned spurned outsider — trying to merge with Tesla, then pulling funding when rejected. He’s part antagonist, part comic relief.
That’s where Barinholtz’s casting makes sense. His comedy background fits Musk’s public persona, hinting at the film’s satirical edge beneath the serious premise.
Artificial stars Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman and Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever. Filming is underway in Italy, with a 2026 release planned. Guadagnino joined after his Sgt. Rock project was shelved — an unexpected turn, but a promising one.
