From being Hollywood's biggest enemy to winning Oscars, AI is reshaping cinema with its increasing role in filmmaking. How will it affect artists and industry jobs?
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| As AI infiltrates Hollywood’s biggest productions, debate brews on its impact on creative jobs and the future of filmmaking. Image: Collected/ BBC |
Los Angeles, California, USA — March 31, 2025:
Hollywood's relationship with artificial intelligence (AI) has undergone a dramatic shift. What was once the villain of a bitter strike, AI is now emerging as an essential tool in filmmaking, even earning recognition at the Oscars. Two years ago, Hollywood actors and writers shut down productions, fearing AI's potential to replace their roles and infringe on their creative rights. Fast forward to today, and AI is quietly—but unmistakably—reshaping the entertainment landscape, with Oscar-winning films using the technology, according to a BBC post.
In a historic soundstage, once home to silent film legends like Charlie Chaplin and Mabel Normand, executives, tech developers, and artists gathered at a lavish event to discuss AI’s growing influence on cinema. Bryn Mooser, co-founder of Moonvalley, hosted the event, celebrating his company’s AI-powered tool, Marey, which allows filmmakers to generate content with paid consent from artists. Mooser emphasized the importance of keeping creators at the heart of AI development, asserting that their model, which compensates content creators, is the “clean” alternative to the more controversial practices in the industry.
Historically, Hollywood has depicted AI as a threat. Films like The Terminator presented the technology as an existential menace, with machines taking over humanity. But in real life, it’s the tech companies—like OpenAI and Google—that have drawn the ire of creatives. Writers, actors, and news organizations have filed lawsuits against these companies, accusing them of using copyrighted material without consent to train their AI models.
Yet, despite the backlash, Hollywood is experimenting with AI’s potential. Films such as Emilia Perez and The Brutalist have used AI to enhance performances, even helping actor Adrien Brody win an Academy Award for his portrayal of a Hungarian character, with AI fine-tuning his accent. AI has also been used for groundbreaking effects, such as de-aging iconic actors like Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford for their roles.
The role of AI in filmmaking is becoming more pronounced. OpenAI recently hosted a film festival in Los Angeles, and directors Joe and Anthony Russo revealed plans to invest $400 million into AI tools for filmmakers. This investment is seen as an attempt to democratize filmmaking, allowing smaller filmmakers to create big-budget movies with lower costs.
However, AI’s rise has led to concern about job displacement. Many fear that AI could replace a wide range of roles, particularly for background actors and other lower-profile positions. OpenAI’s popular chatbot, ChatGPT, even listed background actors as the "most vulnerable" to AI replacement, citing that "A-list actors and directors" are more secure due to their star power and brand recognition.
Despite the risks, Mooser and his team remain optimistic about the technology’s potential. They believe AI will empower filmmakers to create epic, blockbuster-style films with smaller budgets, potentially revolutionizing the industry. “The technology needs to ultimately be subservient to the artist,” said Naeem Talukdar, Mooser’s co-founder. “It should be a tool for creators, not a replacement.”
However, AI's rise in Hollywood also intersects with broader legal and policy debates. While tech companies argue that the U.S. must relax copyright laws to compete with China in the AI race, Hollywood insiders fear that doing so would undermine the very industries that provide millions of jobs. More than 400 A-list Hollywood stars, including Natasha Lyonne, Ben Stiller, and Cate Blanchett, have written an open letter to the Trump administration, urging the government to ensure that AI’s growth doesn’t come at the expense of creative professionals.
As AI continues to make its way into films, the debate over its impact on the industry intensifies. Many actors, including those in the video game sector, are protesting the use of AI to replace their voices and likenesses without consent. “AI just can’t understand the lived experiences of actual actors,” says DW McCann, an actor involved in recent pickets.
While the future of AI in Hollywood remains uncertain, Mooser remains hopeful. “Technology is going to be in everything,” he says. “Let’s make sure it’s done the right way, and that artists aren’t run over by big companies.” As AI becomes an increasingly dominant force in the industry, its role in shaping the future of cinema—and the livelihoods of those working within it—will undoubtedly be one of the biggest stories in the years to come.