Andrew Garfield Says He Once Thought Sam Altman Could Be His "Future Best Friend"

Andrew Garfield, who plays OpenAI chief Sam Altman in the film "Artificial," has said he once admired Altman so much that he hoped they might become close friends. He spoke on Monday, 9 November 2026, at a question-and-answer session after a screening of the film at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, according to Variety.

The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, tells the story of how OpenAI was founded, and of the period when Altman was fired and then quickly rehired. The screening was hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group behind the Oscars, which runs the museum.

Garfield said the first time he saw Altman was on television, when Altman was testifying before Congress about transparency and risks. He said he had no equity in OpenAI, meaning he held no ownership stake in the company. He said he felt deep admiration for Altman and thought, "This guy might be like my future best friend."

He went further, calling Altman "genuinely great." Garfield said Altman seemed to have his values and priorities in the right place. He also said Altman had convinced him that he was "nothing but purely altruistic."

That picture has since shifted. Garfield said he has never had any interaction with Altman, has never seen him in real life, and has never waved at him. He disputed an anecdote Altman has told about the two of them waving at each other while the film was shooting near Altman's home in San Francisco.

Garfield also said he did not reach out to Altman while preparing for the role. Many actors who play real people meet their subjects or their families, so the choice stands out. Garfield's account gives the film's making a more personal side, one where the actor built his portrayal without a direct conversation with the man he was playing.

For readers who follow the film industry, the Q&A is a reminder that a biopic's story often gets told twice. Once on screen, and once in interviews where the people involved explain how they saw the events.