Artificial (2001) Movie News - Steven Spielberg

LOS ANGELES - Monica Barbaro is staying tight-lipped about the specifics of Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming sci-fi drama “Artificial,” but the actress is offering a few tantalizing hints about the project, while also clearing the air regarding her “Dune: Part Two” co-star Timothée Chalamet’s recent remarks about ballet.

Speaking at a press event on Friday, Barbaro confirmed that production on the film - which marks a major studio collaboration between Guadagnino and OpenAI - is well underway, describing the experience as “unlike anything I’ve ever been part of.” She declined to reveal plot details, but did acknowledge that the script, co-written by Guadagnino and David Kajganich, deals heavily with themes of consciousness and synthetic emotion.

“There’s a level of intimacy in Luca’s process that makes the big ideas feel very personal,” Barbaro said. “We’re not just talking about technology or artificial intelligence in the abstract. Every scene is anchored in a very human, very messy feeling.” The actress, who plays a lead role opposite an as-yet-unannounced cast member, added that the director has been “meticulous” in building the film’s world, using practical sets and minimal CGI wherever possible.

When pressed on a specific plot point regarding a robotic boy named David - which matches the official logline for the project, describing a childlike android adopted by a grieving couple - Barbaro laughed and said, “I can’t confirm or deny any names or storylines. You’ll have to wait for the trailer.” However, she did note that the film’s tone is “a strange blend of Spielbergian wonder and Guadagnino’s trademark sensuality,” which she called “a dream combination.”

The announcement of “Artificial” has generated significant buzz since it was revealed in March, with OpenAI’s involvement marking a first for a major theatrical release. The company, known for its large language models, has partnered with the production to develop an AI-driven narrative engine that assists in generating certain dialogue variations, though Barbaro was quick to clarify that the actors are still very much in control of their performances.

“I think there’s a misconception that the AI is writing the movie or replacing anyone,” she said. “It’s more like a very clever assistant that offers alternate phrasings when we’re stuck. The final choices are always human. And Luca is very much a human director - he’s on set with a pulse, feeling everything.”

Chalamet, meanwhile, made headlines last month when he joked in an interview that Barbaro’s rigorous ballet training - which she famously underwent for her role as a dancer in “The Fabelmans” - had made her “too precise” to be a natural actress. The comment, which was meant in jest, sparked a minor online debate.

Barbaro addressed the remarks directly, smiling but firm. “Timothée and I have known each other for years, and he’s one of the most supportive people in this industry,” she said. “He sent me a text the night that interview came out, just to make sure I knew he was being silly. I think he was worried I’d actually be offended.” She added, “Ballet gave me discipline, but it also taught me how to fall. That’s very useful in acting. And frankly, Timothée could use a little more precision in his life - he loses his phone twice a week.”

The two actors shared the screen in Denis Villeneuve’s epic franchise, and Barbaro confirmed that she and Chalamet are in talks for a potential reunion beyond “Artificial.” “There’s something in development that Denis is writing - I can’t say more - but Timothée and I have already said we’d do it in a heartbeat,” she revealed.

“Artificial” is slated for a theatrical release in late 2027, with Guadagnino’s team aiming for a festival premiere in Venice or Cannes. The film, which has a reported runtime of around two and a half hours, is being produced by Frenesy Film and is expected to be one of the most technically ambitious projects of the year. While Barbaro remains coy about her role’s specifics, she did offer one last tease: “There’s one scene that took four days to shoot, and I’m not sure I’ve fully recovered from it emotionally. That’s the best I can do.”

No official trailer has been released, but Barbaro hinted that “something small” might drop ahead of the Venice Film Festival in September. “Luca likes to keep people guessing,” she said. “And so do I.”

Source: The Hollywood Reporter