James Cameron Blasts "Horrifying" Trend of AI-Generated Movie Stars
The legendary director behind some of cinema's biggest blockbusters is speaking out against a new industry trend. While defending his own use of technology, he draws a firm line in the sand on a controversial new practice that he believes goes too far. What has the iconic filmmaker so concerned about the future of movies?
The celebrated filmmaker James Cameron has voiced his strong disapproval of using generative artificial intelligence in movies, labeling the concept as deeply unsettling. During a recent appearance on CBS’s “Sunday Morning,” the director addressed the emergence of digitally created performers like Tilly Norwood, making his position on the matter crystal clear.
Drawing a Line Between Performance Capture and AI Creation
Cameron pushed back against long-standing claims that his Avatar movies leverage AI to substitute for human actors. He explained that this is a fundamental misunderstanding of his process. “For years, there was this sense that, ‘Oh, they’re doing something strange with computers and they’re replacing actors,’ when in fact, once you really drill down and you see what we’re doing, it’s a celebration of the actor-director moment,” he stated.
To further distinguish his work from purely synthetic creation, the director contrasted his methods with the new technology. “Now, go to the other end of the spectrum, and you’ve got generative AI, where they can make up a character,” he explained. “They can make up an actor. They can make up a performance from scratch with a text prompt. It’s like, no. That’s horrifying to me. That’s the opposite. That’s exactly what we’re not doing.”
Industry Controversies and Collaborations
His comments arrive in the wake of producer Eline Van der Velden introducing Norwood to the public. This move triggered significant debate, as Norwood became the first entirely AI-generated performer to be represented by a casting agency.
Cameron himself is no stranger to tech-related discussions. In another recent conversation, he acknowledged a potential future collaboration with Elon Musk, with whom he has developed a friendship despite their differing political views. The director has also been vocal about other shifts in the movie business, arguing that films produced for Netflix should not be eligible for Academy Awards.
Looking Ahead
Meanwhile, fans can look forward to Cameron's next major project. His upcoming movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is scheduled to hit theaters on December 17th.