Ike Barinholtz Set to Play Elon Musk in Wild AI Drama

Ike Barinholtz is in talks to play Elon Musk in “Artificial,” a new entertainment satire from Luca Guadagnino and Amazon MGM. The film will dramatize the explosive 2023 fallout at OpenAI, when CEO Sam Altman was suddenly fired and rehired in less than a week. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “The Social Network” star Andrew Garfield is set to portray Altman. Yura Borisov, the Oscar-nominated breakout from “Anora,” is expected to play OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, according to Variety.

Ike Barinholtz Joins Artificial After Emmy-Nominated Role in The Studio

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Barinholtz is coming off an Emmy nomination for his performance as Sal Saperstein in “The Studio,” the Hollywood satire from Seth Rogen that skewers behind-the-scenes chaos in the streaming era. The series, which aired on Apple TV+, has earned critical acclaim and put Barinholtz back in the spotlight after a long run of scene-stealing supporting roles.

He’s widely recognized for his breakout turn on “The Mindy Project,” where he played lovable nurse Morgan Tookers, and has delivered big laughs in films like “Neighbors,” “Blockers,” and “Sisters.” Barinholtz also voiced characters in the Hulu animated series “The Awesomes” and most recently appeared in Apple TV+’s murder mystery hit “The Afterparty.”

Barinholtz got his start on the long-running sketch show “MadTV,” where he became known for wild characters and celebrity impressions. He later made his directorial debut with “The Oath,” a politically charged black comedy he also wrote and starred in. “Artificial” will mark one of his most ambitious dramatic roles to date, portraying Elon Musk during one of the most publicly chaotic chapters in tech history. The casting reflects a significant leap in Barinholtz’s career, positioning him at the center of a high-profile project alongside major awards talent.

Andrew Garfield Reunites With Guadagnino for AI Satire

This is Garfield’s second project with Guadagnino, following their upcoming drama “After the Hunt,” which also stars Julia Roberts and Ayo Edebiri. That film will premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and both it and “Artificial” are backed by Amazon MGM. Guadagnino previously directed “Challengers,” “Bones and All,” and the 2018 reimagining of “Suspiria.”

“Artificial” is written by Simon Rich, the comedy mind behind “An American Pickle.” He’s producing alongside David Heyman, known for “Barbie” and the “Harry Potter” series, as well as Jeffrey Clifford and Jennifer Fox. With high-profile casting, real-life controversy, and Guadagnino’s stylish approach, the film is expected to hit a nerve with audiences following the rise of AI in pop culture.

Production is scheduled to begin later this year. No release date has been announced.

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