It was merely a question of when. OpenAI, the enterprise that has instilled dread in Hollywood due to its alarmingly potent AI tools, is on the verge of becoming the focus of a cinematic drama.
The tech firm that gained widespread recognition through ChatGPT, ignited worldwide discussions regarding the future of intelligence, and somehow managed to fire and rehire its CEO in less than a week in late 2023 is now at the center of a film deal forming at Amazon MGM (though as of this moment, nothing is confirmed). A buzzworthy director has already been attached — Luca Guadagnino, according to The Hollywood Reporter, whose filmography includes Challengers and Call Me By Your Name.
Now, let’s get to the crucial aspect: The casting.
When narrating the saga of OpenAI’s tumultuous 2023 power battle, the characters must be accurately represented. Sure, there are already a handful of A-list actors allegedly considering the project, but let’s face it. In my opinion, the ideal choices are evident, starting with who should portray OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
OpenAI Sam Altman (Nicholas Braun)
In recounting OpenAI’s story, Altman is undeniably the pivotal character. He’s an ambitious, soft-spoken visionary who effortlessly balances an aura of control that may be slightly unsettling for some, while also being someone who seems wary of the colossal entity he helped build.
I’ve always perceived OpenAI’s CEO as having a bit of Cousin Greg vibe, so for this reason, my first casting choice is a clear winner; it has to go to Succession’s Nicholas Braun. He’s tall, awkward, and can convey the type of behind-the-scenes anxiety that any individual entrusted with “aligning artificial general intelligence to human values” must feel. Furthermore, I think we can all concur that, to borrow a line from Tom Wambsgans, you’ve got to break a few Gregs to create an Altman.
OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever (Will Arnett)
Continuing on, there’s absolutely no justification for why Will Arnett should not embody OpenAI’s former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever. Alright, alright, if I’m being truthful … I’m envisioning Arnett’s trademark deadpan delivery that would perfectly capture a line about doomsday scenarios or recursive self-enhancement. You just know that, at some stage, he would utter something with a similar existential resonance as his legendary Arrested Development lament (“I’ve made a huge mistake”).
OpenAI president Greg Brockman (Matt Damon)
We have two more significant roles to fill. Regarding OpenAI’s president, I would select Matt Damon due to his capacity to oscillate between youthful exuberance and world-weary depth — the ideal mix for the individual who resigned from OpenAI in protest and played a pivotal role in facilitating Altman’s return. Damon can convincingly portray both the optimism of constructing the future and the disenchantment of witnessing it almost unravel.
It’s Good Will Hunting meets The Martian meets Silicon Valley.
OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati (Nasim Pedrad)
As for Mira Murati — the interim CEO who stepped in during the whirlwind period of just a few days between Altman’s removal and reinstatement — you require someone exuding composure, intelligence, and a touch of enigma. SNL alum Nasim Pedrad fits the bill perfectly, not to mention she strikingly resembles Murati. I suspect Pedrad could effectively embody the ex-OpenAI CTO’s calm demeanor under pressure while subtly revealing the nuances beneath.
The planned OpenAI film, currently titled Artificial, is rapidly progressing through development with a high-caliber creative team and intends to commence shooting as early as this summer. If that schedule holds, we might soon witness dramatizations of Slack messages, boardroom conflicts, and exceedingly awkward all-hands gatherings set against San Francisco’s tech landscape sooner than anticipated.
