Monica Barbaro to Co-Star in Netflix’s AI-Centered Film ‘Artificial’ with Andrew Garfield

Actress Monica Barbaro collaborates with partner Andrew Garfield and director Luca Guadagnino on a feature film exploring AI’s real-world drama at OpenAI, blending personal chemistry with emerging tech narratives

Amy Martin Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Monica Barbaro is stepping into a new realm of storytelling, one that fuses personal and technological intrigue. The “Top Gun: Maverick” alum recently announced that she’ll join Andrew Garfield—rumored to be romantically linked—in a feature directed by Luca Guadagnino. The film, intriguingly titled Artificial, dramatizes the 2023 upheaval at OpenAI when CEO Sam Altman was fired and then reinstated.

Barbaro, speaking at a press event ahead of the Netflix premiere of her series FUBAR, described the project as “a blend of romance, drama, and the high stakes of AI.” Though details remain tightly under wraps, sources say Garfield will play a tech insider navigating personal relationships against a backdrop of institutional chaos. Barbaro, working opposite him, will anchor a human core amid the industry’s high-tech drama.

This isn’t just another celebrity-backed tech film. Artificial is slated to explore real-world ethical questions—power, personality, and public trust within AI leadership. In an era where AI-generated content and deepfakes swirl across social media, its timing feels deliberate. Given Guadagnino’s earlier successes (Call Me By Your Name, Bones and All), expectations are high for a nuanced and emotionally driven portrayal of crisis.

The romantic headline—Barbaro starring opposite Garfield, her rumored boyfriend—adds buzz but could risk overshadowing the film’s serious focus. Yet Barbaro seemed aware of this during interviews, framing their collaboration as professional first and tabloid whisper second: “It’s about two people trying to navigate love while the world spins faster around them—especially when the rules are being rewritten by tech.”

Barbaro’s Netflix momentum is significant: FUBAR drew over 12 million views in its first two weeks, according to internal Netflix data, signaling her rise as a streaming talent. This move into feature film—especially one dealing with AI’s real-world consequences—marks strategic growth aligned with her evolving brand.

AI’s portrayal in mainstream film is increasingly sophisticated. Earlier this month, Google launched AI on Screen, funding shorts that reframe AI from dystopian fear to human-enhancing potential. Meanwhile, high-profile legal battles over AI-generated celebrity likeness (like Disney vs. Midjourney) underscore unsettled questions about consent and ownership. Artificial enters this charged atmosphere, offering Hollywood a chance to dramatize modern dilemmas rather than escape them.

Production is expected to begin later this summer in Los Angeles, with Netflix reportedly courting film festivals for a 2026 debut. While training for the roles, Barbaro and Garfield underwent brief tech bootcamps in Palo Alto—and sources hint at real OpenAI insiders consulting on the script to ensure authenticity.

What’s notable is how this project merges form and content. A romance set amid real-time AI controversies starring two actors with personal chemistry feels both marketable and meaningful. It’s a step beyond celebrity involvement—it’s celebrity reflecting real AI drama through narrative.

It also signals Hollywood’s growing fascination with AI not just as a tool but as a storyline. We’ve moved from fun deepfake sketches and commentary pieces to full-scale dramatic adaptations of tech controversies. Whether Artificial lands as cultural commentary or celebrity spectacle may depend on its depth and intention.

With Barbaro and Garfield in the lead, and Guadagnino at the helm, Artificial has the pedigree to spark both box-office draw and ethical dialogue. In a world grappling with AI’s rise, Hollywood appears dedicated not just to watching it, but to dramatizing its consequences.