Artificial intelligence has burst into Hollywood with breathtaking speed and alarming consequences.
What started as an experimental novelty has now transformed into a full-blown industry crisis, as viral AI-generated films and hyperrealistic clips of A-list actors force studios, unions and lawmakers to confront the future of entertainment.
Earlier this week, Dor Brothers, a Berlin-based AI video production company, claimed to have produced a “$200,000,000 worth of AI film in a single day.”
The video, created entirely with generative tools, went viral on X (formerly Twitter), amassing millions of views and sparking debate over whether AI can actually replicate blockbuster cinema.
Supporters hailed it as evidence of a new era, while skeptics dismissed it as hype.
Either way, the message highlights how quickly AI is encroaching on traditional production models.
Deepfake Shock: Tom Cruise vs. Brad Pitt in a fight against AI
If the Dor Brothers film was a provocation, the viral AI fight sequence between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt was a shockwave.
Created with Seedance 2.0, the 15-second clip showed the two megastars trading blows on a rooftop with eerie realism.
Variations of the video circulated online, complete with dialogue and camera angles, leaving audiences perplexed.
Writer Rhett Reese (Deadpool and Wolverine) bluntly warned: “It’s probably over for us. »
The clip crystallized Hollywood’s worst fears that AI could convincingly imitate actors without their consent, eroding both creative integrity and livelihoods.
SAG-AFTRA draws line on AI exploitation
In response, SAG-AFTRA took a hard line.
The union condemned Seedance 2.0’s use of actor likenesses as a “blatant infraction” and called for an outright ban on AI creations featuring real movie stars.
Some argue that unauthorized reproduction of voices and faces compromises performers’ ability to earn a living and deprives them of control over their identity.
The guild has been working on AI protection for several years, with strict consent requirements, compensation frameworks and federal safeguards.
Hollywood Divided: Threat or Opportunity?
Hollywood is now torn between concern and opportunity.
Unions, screenwriters and many actors view AI as an existential threat.
They warn of job losses, creative theft and collapse of artistic value if studios adopt AI without regulation.
Some studios and technologists say AI can be a powerful tool if used responsibly for previsualization, special effects or improving workflows.
They point out that AI is not yet capable of producing true cinema-quality 4K movies, highlighting its current limitations.
The road ahead: 2026, a defining year for cinema
2026 promises to be a pivotal year.
As studios invest billions in AI, unions mobilize to protect themselves, and viral clips erode trust, Hollywood faces a defining choice: adopt AI intelligently or risk chaos.
