Tom Hanks shared a ‘scary thought’ about how artificial intelligence could be used to recreate his iconic Toy story character, Woody, without his actual involvement.
Speaking after Toy Story 5 set a franchise record with a massive $312 million worldwide opening, the two-time Oscar winner spoke about the inevitability of a sixth film and the reality that Disney may no longer need him to voice the beloved cowboy.
Hanks revealed that because every word he has recorded for the 31-year-old franchise is securely stored on digital media, the studio possesses the power to digitally compile his past audio data to construct an entirely new performance, a prospect that he and his longtime co-star Tim Allen find deeply unsettling.
Find out if he would officially return for a potential Toy Story 6Hanks said Weekly Entertainment that any future payments must have a genuinely valid purpose.
He emphasized that a sequel needs to explore a great, fresh, new theme rather than just dragging out the narrative because audiences love the title, explicitly acknowledging that while the franchise is undoubtedly a massive undertaking, there’s no reason to do so unless the material is exceptional.
However, the legendary actor remains aware that the choice to continue could ultimately circumvent his own creative consent.
Reflecting on the capabilities of modern technology, Hanks observed that time is unconquered, raising the question of whether a digital version of itself could simply be made using the vast archives of recorded audio at Disney’s disposal.
This deep anxiety about AI and deepfake technology isn’t entirely new to Hanks, who previously reflected on its long-term implications for the industry during an episode of The Adam Buxton Podcast in 2023.
He noted that actors’ careers can now theoretically continue long after their deaths, tracing his first encounter with extensive digital data recorded to Robert Zemeckis’ Christmas movie in 2004. The Polar Express.
Hanks recalled that the team anticipated the upcoming possibility of turning computer code into realistic faces and characters, a technology that has grown a billion-fold since then.
He warned that anyone can now perform at any age, noting that even if he were hit by a bus tomorrow, his performances could go on and on.
He concluded that apart from the general understanding of AI and deepfakes, nothing will ultimately tell the audience that they are not alone on screen.
Although Hanks considers this an undeniable and realistic achievement, he maintains that it poses as much a legal challenge to the entertainment industry as an artistic challenge, even if Toy Story 5 continues its record-breaking run in cinemas nationwide.
