James Cameron calls AI-created actors ‘horrifying’ for Hollywood

Filmmaker James Cameron has expressed deep concern over the accelerating use of generative artificial intelligence in Hollywood, calling the notion that AI could replace an actor and create an entire performance from a simple text prompt “horrifying,” Variety reported.

The Avatar and Terminator director recalled that even during the development of the first Avatar film in 2005, some in the industry assumed he was trying to replace human actors with computer-generated characters.

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Cameron dismissed those claims, emphasising that his work has always placed actors at the heart of storytelling.

“For years, there was this belief that we were trying to replace actors with computers,” he said. “But if you really look at what we do, it’s actually a celebration of the actor-director moment.”

Cameron said today’s AI tools present a far more troubling scenario. “Now you’ve got generative AI, where they can invent a character, an actor, an entire performance from scratch with just a prompt,” he said.

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“No. That’s horrifying to me. That’s the opposite of what we’re doing.” His comments follow the unveiling of AI-generated performer Tilly Norwood at the Zurich Summit, created by comedian and producer Eline Van der Velden.

The virtual actor sparked backlash from filmmakers and industry groups concerned about artistic authenticity and the future of human performers.

Van der Velden, however, believes AI’s role in film will only grow. “It’ll be a slow progression,” she told Variety.

“In the coming year, many effects, establishing shots, even second-unit shots will be done with AI, and eventually we’ll reach a fully AI-made film. Whether audiences will pay for it or not, I don’t think they’ll know the difference. If the storytelling is good, that’s what matters.”