Barinholtz cast as Elon Musk in Artificial

Ike Barinholtz plays Elon Musk in Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial, a film that sits at the crossroads of tech power and Hollywood storytelling.

Barinholtz takes on Elon Musk role amid Hollywood AI debate

In San Francisco, Ike Barinholtz is in town filming Artificial, Luca Guadagnino’s drama about OpenAI leadership turbulence in 2023. Andrew Garfield plays Altman in the fact-based project, and Barinholtz is Elon Musk. The production follows Barinholtz’s breakout year in The Studio, Apple TV+’s sharp comedy that earned him an Emmy nomination, and his growing role as a producer on Running Point with Mindy Kaling. The project sits at a moment when Hollywood is weighing how far AI will influence the arts while still telling human stories.

Barinholtz describes the role with a mix of curiosity and caution. The tone, he says, will blend humor and unease rather than pure comedy, a signature of Guadagnino’s approach to difficult material. The interview also touches on industry dynamics from late night television to the pressure of tech fireside talks online, framing a broader conversation about where power and art intersect in a changing economy.

Barinholtz’s casting as Musk highlights a growing trend in which real life tech figures anchor high concept thrillers about power and AI. The film risks inviting a polarized reception from Musk’s supporters even as it aims to probe the ethical lines of innovation. By grounding the project in a human, fallible portrayal rather than a caricature, it mirrors a current preference in Hollywood for character driven satire that still asks hard questions about the tech boom.

The project arrives as the industry debates AI’s role in art and jobs. Barinholtz on a potential future where storytelling remains essential suggests a counterweight to machines with a human touch. If Artificial balances its humor with critical insight, it could help shape a broader public conversation about how much creative work should be automated and who gets to tell these stories. The risk is real: backlash from fans, critics, and anyone watching tech power collide with cultural influence.

Highlights

As film and tech collide, audiences will decide how this moment is remembered.