Latest news with #IkeBarinholtz
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Ike Barinholtz cast as Elon Musk in OpenAI film from Luca Guadagnino
The Studio's Ike Barinholtz is set to play Elon Musk in Artificial, the Luca Guadagnino-directed film about Sam Altman and OpenAI. Barinholtz was nominated for an Emmy for his role as production executive Sal Saperstein in the acclaimed comedy series co-created by, among others, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, as well as acting as one of the co-creators of Kate Hudson sports-comedy series Running Point. Musk was one of the co-founders of OpenAI in 2015, along with Altman and a string of others; however, he left the company in 2018 and started a rival firm called xAI in 2023. Musk and OpenAI have been at loggerheads since, with a string of legal claims on both sides. Musk has accused OpenAI of abandoning its original charitable mission by establishing a for-profit subsidiary, and in August 2024 launched legal action against the company claiming he was manipulated into co-founding it, saying: 'The perfidy and deceit is of Shakespearean proportions.' Musk subsequently attempted a takeover of the company in 2025; his $97.4bn bid for OpenAI was rebuffed, with Altman posting on social media: 'no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.' In April, OpenAI countersued Musk for what it claimed were his 'malicious campaigns' and 'harassing legal claims'. Although plot details have not been confirmed, Guadagnino's film is said to concentrate on the brief period of behind-the-scenes drama when Altman was fired and re-hired as OpenAI CEO within a matter of days in November 2024. The board had claimed Altman was not 'consistently candid in his communications', but Altman was reinstated after many of the company's employees threatened to quit. Andrew Garfield, Monica Barbaro and Anora's Yura Borisov have reportedly been cast in the film, though their roles have not been clarified. The writer has been confirmed as novelist Simon Rich, a former contributor to the Observer and writer of Rogen comedy An American Pickle. Guadagnino has just completed thriller After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Garfield, which is due to receive its world premiere at the Venice film festival.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
AI-themed film to depict drama at Elon Musk company
Ike Barinholtz is reportedly in talks to portray Elon Musk in a new film titled Artificial. The AI-themed film, directed by Challengers director Luca Guadagnino, is being produced by Amazon-MGM studios. Early reports suggest the movie will depict the tumultuous period at OpenAI in 2023, when CEO Sam Altman was briefly fired and rehired. Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI, which is now best known for ChatGPT, in 2015 but later expressed concerns about the company's direction and the effects of its technology. The cast is also said to include Yura Borisov, Andrew Garfield, and Cooper Koch, with the script written by Simon Rich.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Ike Barinholtz, set to play Elon Musk in Luca Guadagnino's Artificial? Known for celeb impressions, won $1M on TV
Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Ike Barinholtz may soon take on the role of one of tech's most polarising figures. As per Variety, Ike is in talks to portray Elon Musk in Luca Guadagnino's upcoming feature film Artificial, a satire set in the high-stakes world of artificial intelligence. Ike Barinholtz in talks to play Elon Musk in the film Artificial.(Reuters) The film, penned by acclaimed writer Simon Rich, will be produced by David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford of Heyday Films alongside Jennifer Fox. Barinholtz is expected to join a powerhouse cast that includes Andrew Garfield and recent Oscar nominee Yura Borisov. Who is Ike Barinholtz? Ike Barinholtz is an American actor, writer, director, and producer best known for his energetic comedic flair. Born to Peggy and Alan Barinholtz (an actor and attorney), Ike worked at a telemarketing company and as a busboy before starting his career in comedy. He rose to fame through the sketch comedy series MADtv (2002–2007) and later earned critical acclaim as Morgan Tookers in The Mindy Project (2012–2017), where he also contributed behind the scenes as a writer and producer. The actor also gained attention for his knack for celebrity impressions. Some of his most memorable impressions include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mark Wahlberg, Russell Brand, President George W. Bush, Nick Nolte and Dane Cook. Barinholtz's ability to embody both the voice and mannerisms of these celebrities made him a standout performer on MADtv. In 2023, Ike participated in season 2 of the American game show, Celebrity Jeopardy. The show consists of a 13-episode tournament played by 27 celebrities, and their winning are donated to the charity of their choice. Ike won $1 million for charity. He also participated in Who Wants To Be a Millionaire along with his father, and the duo won $1 million top prize, which they donated to the ASL program at Los Encinos School. His film credits include roles in popular comedies such as Neighbors (2014), Sisters (2015), Suicide Squad (2016), and Blockers (2018). Most recently, Barinholtz earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in The Studio. About the film Artificial The upcoming film is said to be a comedy-drama set against the backdrop of the artificial intelligence industry. According to reports, the story, titled Artificial, will revolve around the dramatic events at OpenAI in 2023, when CEO Sam Altman was abruptly removed from his position and reinstated within a matter of days. While official details remain under wraps, Andrew Garfield is reportedly in talks to play Altman, and Russian actor Nikita Borisov is rumoured to be cast as Ilya Sutskever, the OpenAI co-founder who was instrumental in Altman's ouster. Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind companies like SpaceX, Tesla and more, co-founded OpenAI alongside Altman and others in 2015. However, he left the company in 2018 after a reported disagreement about the direction in which the company was headed.
The Hindu
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Ike Barinholtz in talks to play Elon Musk in Luca Guadagnino's ‘Artificial'
Actor Ike Barinholtz is in negotiations to portray tech billionaire Elon Musk in Luca Guadagnino's upcoming film Artificial, a comedic drama centered on the world of artificial intelligence. The project is being developed by Amazon MGM Studios. Best known for roles in The Mindy Project, Blockers, and most recently Apple TV's The Studio, which earned him an Emmy nomination, Barinholtz is expected to take on the role of Musk during a dramatised retelling of the 2023 OpenAI boardroom shakeup. The film is said to explore the dramatic few days when Sam Altman was ousted and swiftly reinstated as OpenAI CEO. While plot details remain under wraps, Andrew Garfield is reportedly set to play Altman, with Yura Borisov, fresh off his Oscar nomination for Anora, expected to play Ilya Sutskever, the OpenAI co-founder who played a pivotal role in the leadership upheaval. Artificial was written by Simon Rich, whose previous credits include An American Pickle. Rich also serves as producer, alongside David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford of Heyday Films, and Jennifer Fox. The film continues Guadagnino's partnership with Amazon MGM, following previous collaborations on Challengers (2024), Bones and All (2022), and Suspiria (2018). The director's next project, After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri, is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival later this year.
Gizmodo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Here's the Front-Runner to Play Elon Musk in Luca Guadagnino's AI Movie
It seems like you haven't really made it in Silicon Valley until a major movie actor plays you on film. Jesse Eisenberg portrayed Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, and Michael Fassbender played Steve Jobs in the 2015 film Steve Jobs. Even Bill Gates was played by Anthony Michael Hall in the 1999 TV film Pirates of Silicon Valley. And now Elon Musk is reportedly next in line to get the Hollywood treatment. Deadline reported today that Ike Barinholtz, the star of The Studio, which earned him his first Emmy nomination, is in talks to play the Tesla CEO in Luca Guadagnino's upcoming movie Artificial. Guadagnino is known for his stylish films that include Call Me by Your Name, Queer, and Challengers. And now the Italian director is taking on Silicon Valley next. Artificial is being described as a comedic drama about the world of artificial intelligence. Specific plot details have not been officially announced yet, but sources told Deadline that the film will be about the time OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was suddenly fired from the company in 2023, only to be rehired four days later. Altman was initially ousted by the company's board for allegedly not being 'consistently candid in his communication with the board.' The New York Times reported at the time that Altman had tried to remove one of the directors, Helen Toner, after a research paper she co-authored was perceived by him as critical of OpenAI's safety practices, while praising rival firm Anthropic. Microsoft quickly offered Altman a job, prompting most of OpenAI's staff to threaten to quit. Eventually, Altman won the power struggle and returned to lead the company with much of the board replaced. Barinholtz would join a cast that currently includes includes Anora's Yura Borisov, Andrew Garfield, who played Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network, and Cooper Koch. Although it hasn't been confirmed, some outlets speculate that Garfield would be playing Altman. Guadagnino also frequently works with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who famously scored The Social Network, so we might see the Nine Inch Nails frontman return his focus to tech bros. Musk cofounded OpenAI with Altman and others back in 2015, but he left in 2018, reportedly over disagreements about the company's direction. He now runs a rival company, xAI. And the feud between the two has only escalated since. Earlier this year, Musk exited his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and engaged in a public spat with Trump on social media. Around the same time, Altman joined Trump for a long one-on-one meeting. Trump later publicly praised Altman's AI infrastructure efforts, which Musk has previously disparaged.
