The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked controversy in the film industry, with at least two major contenders revealing they used voice-cloning technology to enhance actors’ performances.
The Brutalist director Dávid Jancsó admitted to using AI software to create Hungarian dialogue for his film starring Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. However, he stated that the AI tool was only used to refine specific sounds and letters, not to alter or replace the actors’ English language performances.
Meanwhile, another film, directed by Jacques Audiard, employed AI cloning to enhance the singing voice of Emilia Pérez’s character in a trans gangster musical. In contrast, Heretic, starring Hugh Grant, has taken a radical anti-AI stance, with its end credits stating that no generative AI was used in the making of the film.
The recent actors’ and writers’ strike has raised concerns over the threat AI poses to the industry, with settlements including “guardrails” against AI-generated scripts. Film-maker Paul Schrader revealed he experimented with ChatGPT to generate ideas for films by major auteurs, sparking debate about the potential impact of AI on the creative process.
As the Oscars approach, the controversy surrounding AI cloning may have an effect on the nominations. Adrien Brody is now a strong contender for the best actor award, while Emilia Pérez looks likely to be the first trans actor to be nominated for the best actress Oscar.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/20/the-brutalist-and-emilia-perezs-voice-cloning-controversies-make-ai-the-new-awards-season-battleground