Amazon drops nearly finished OpenAI film directed by Luca Guadagnino, leaving studio in search of a new distributor

Amazon has dropped a nearly completed film project associated with OpenAI that was directed by Luca Guadagnino, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter. The outlet said the studio is now looking for a new distribution or acquisition home for the project after its exit from the production pipeline reached a late stage.

The film was described by The Hollywood Reporter as part of a growing set of studio efforts to navigate technology-adjacent stories and partnerships, even as studios remain cautious about taking on projects that carry uncertain commercial prospects. In its account, the decision reflects a broader reluctance within Hollywood to pick up material that sits at the intersection of major technology brands and mainstream entertainment economics.

The report frames the situation as a combination of political and commercial constraints. On the commercial side, it points to the challenge of building a clear audience pipeline for a high-profile project tied to a technology company, particularly when the project’s market fit and positioning are still being settled after production has already progressed.

Politically, the report characterizes the project as carrying sensitivities that can affect studio risk. For a studio considering acquisition or distribution, that can translate into additional scrutiny, internal debate, and a higher bar for execution, even when the creative team has already carried much of the film’s development to a late point.

For Guadagnino and the producers, the practical effect is immediate: with Amazon no longer attached, the remaining rights and release strategy depend on what terms are available for a transfer, sale, or new distribution arrangement. The report indicates that a new home is the next step, but that any new distributor would need to evaluate the project’s timing, marketing requirements, and compatibility with its own slate.

The shift also highlights the operational reality of late-stage film development, where changes in backing can force a reset in schedules and promotional plans. While the film is described as nearly completed, distribution decisions still affect delivery timelines, possible finishing work, and how the release window is negotiated with partners and stakeholders.

The Hollywood Reporter said Amazon’s move leaves the film in limbo at a moment when studios, streamers, and buyers are balancing budgets and brand exposure. The report did not suggest that the creative team or the underlying production had stopped, but it emphasized that the distribution question is now the center of the business problem.