Hollywood star Andrew Garfield is caught in an unusual war of words with one of the most powerful men in Silicon Valley, and the actor admits he’s nervous about making enemies in high places.
The former Spider-Man star, 43, has publicly contradicted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over a bizarre encounter the tech billionaire claims happened outside his San Francisco home. The disagreement comes as Garfield prepares for the theatrical release of Artificial, a provocative new film in which he portrays Altman during one of the biggest power struggles in artificial intelligence history.
In an interview with GQ published November 4, Garfield insisted he has never met Altman, despite the billionaire’s detailed account of seeing the actor dressed and behaving just like him.
The controversy began when Altman told Vanity Fair in October that he had stumbled upon the movie’s production while walking outside his home. He recalled spotting cameras and a man carrying an identical backpack who had seemingly mastered his distinctive mannerisms.
Altman described the experience as surreal, claiming the two exchanged waves before continuing on their way.
But Garfield says that encounter never happened.
“I wasn’t there,” the actor told GQ, explaining that he was so confused by Altman’s account that he replayed the interview several times.
Garfield confirmed that filming had taken place outside Altman’s residence but maintained that the production crew had been told the billionaire wasn’t home. He also dismissed speculation that a body double might explain the conflicting accounts.
“I’ve never waved at Sam,” Garfield insisted, suggesting Altman may have mistaken someone else for him.
The mystery deepened when an OpenAI representative told GQ that Altman had indeed been home during filming and stood by his account of waving at Garfield.
It wasn’t the first time the actor challenged the story. During the film’s October 5 premiere at the New York Film Festival, Garfield joked that he would have had to black out to forget such an encounter.
Yet the strange disagreement is only part of Garfield’s growing unease about portraying a man who holds enormous influence over the future of technology.
Asked whether he worried about becoming permanently associated with Altman, Garfield acknowledged that portraying such a powerful figure carried some uncomfortable possibilities.
“I don’t want to make really powerful enemies,” he admitted.
The actor clarified that he wasn’t predicting retaliation from Altman. Rather, he was uncertain how the billionaire might respond to a film that takes a critical look at the people shaping the artificial intelligence industry.
Garfield also expressed concern that growing corporate and technological power could make it increasingly difficult for artists to challenge influential figures without worrying about potential consequences.
Still, he believes filmmakers have a responsibility to examine the people and institutions shaping society, even when doing so feels intimidating.
The controversy adds another layer of intrigue to Artificial, directed by Luca Guadagnino, which explores OpenAI’s rise and the dramatic November 2023 boardroom revolt that briefly ousted Altman before he returned as CEO.
The film features Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk, Monica Barbaro as former OpenAI executive Mira Murati, Yura Borisov as AI researcher Ilya Sutskever and Mark Rylance as pioneering scientist Geoffrey Hinton.
The movie has already experienced its own behind-the-scenes shakeup. Amazon MGM Studios dropped the project as its distributor earlier this year, before independent film company Neon acquired the rights. Altman has denied that he or anyone acting on his behalf intervened with Amazon over the movie.
Following its October festival premiere, Artificial is scheduled to arrive in U.S. theaters on Christmas Day, December 25.
For now, one peculiar question remains unanswered: Who exactly did Sam Altman see outside his house, and why does Andrew Garfield insist it wasn’t him?
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