In an upcoming cinematic portrayal of the early days of artificial intelligence, an actor tasked with embodying the figure of Elon Musk has chosen a unique approach to his preparation, openly stating a preference to avoid direct interaction with the tech mogul. This unconventional method, as revealed by the actor, involves deep immersion into existing media to capture the essence of the personality he is set to depict, humorously likening the process to 'brain poisoning'.
Ike Barinholtz, an actor currently gaining recognition for his role in the AppleTV+ series \"The Studio,\" which recently achieved significant success at the Emmy Awards, is preparing for his next prominent role. He is slated to portray Elon Musk in the 2026 film \"Artificial,\" directed by Luca Guadagnino. This film will delve into the critical events of OpenAI's history, a company Musk co-founded.
During a recent interview at the 2025 Emmy Awards, Barinholtz was questioned about his approach to playing the enigmatic CEO. He candidly shared that he has no intentions of reaching out to Musk directly. His reasoning was straightforward: \"He's famous enough where you get it.\" This statement suggests a belief that ample public information and media coverage exist to inform his portrayal without personal contact.
Barinholtz further elaborated on his preparation, offering a humorous yet insightful remark. He explained that he began his immersion into the character by \"poisoning my brain by watching lots of interviews with him.\" This method highlights a dedication to understanding Musk's public persona, mannerisms, and communication style through extensive observation rather than direct engagement.
When asked about the pressure of portraying such a high-profile figure, especially one with a substantial and vocal following, Barinholtz maintained his comedic candor. He quipped, \"I hope if he puts me into a gulag, it's one with a lot of my friends, that way we can have a party.\" This lighthearted comment underscores his confident, albeit slightly irreverent, attitude towards the role and the potential reactions it might provoke.
The film \"Artificial\" is anticipated to center around the 2023 saga at OpenAI, where co-founder and CEO Sam Altman experienced a brief ouster before being reinstated. Given Musk's departure from OpenAI in 2018 due to disagreements over its organizational structure—specifically, its balance between nonprofit and for-profit objectives—the extent of his character's role in the narrative remains an open question. The ongoing rivalry between Altman and Musk, fueled by OpenAI's move towards commercialization, adds another layer of intrigue to the film's backdrop.
Andrew Garfield, cast as Sam Altman, and Yura Borisov, playing OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, are also part of the ensemble. Barinholtz emphasized that the production aims for authenticity, stating, \"We try to keep it pretty real.\" This commitment suggests that despite the humorous undertones of his preparation, the actor and the film's creative team are dedicated to delivering a truthful and compelling narrative about a pivotal moment in the AI industry.