Artificial intelligence is making waves in Hollywood, but not everyone is on board with the rapid adoption of the tech. Recently, a funny exchange highlighted some of the skepticism. A fan shared an AI-generated image of actor Brandon Sklenar dressed as Batman, but the image looked pretty odd. James Gunn, the filmmaker behind the upcoming Superman movie and a key figure at DC Studios, responded on Threads with a joke. He pointed out that it would be strange to cast an AI-created Batman with unnaturally tiny arms, referencing how the AI failed to get perspective right.

Gunn’s comment was a playful way to dismiss the idea of AI replacing human creativity in casting. Another comment echoed this sentiment, saying fans could rest easy knowing the next Batman in the DC Universe wouldn’t be AI-made. This banter comes just days after Warner Bros Discovery, which owns the rights to classic Batman films and recent hits like “The Batman,” sued Midjourney, an AI image generator. Warner Bros claims Midjourney’s platform is allowing users to create images and videos of their copyrighted characters without permission, which they argue is copyright infringement.

Fans have been floating names like Brandon Sklenar for the next Batman, especially for the role following Robert Pattinson, who is set to star in the upcoming “The Batman” sequel. But Warner Bros hasn’t announced who will take on the iconic role next. Meanwhile, the debate over AI’s place in filmmaking continues to heat up. Many big names in Hollywood, including Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro, and Sean Penn, have publicly voiced concerns. Spielberg, for example, told Reuters he doesn’t want AI to make creative decisions for him or serve as a non-human “collaborator.”

Despite these worries, Hollywood seems to be embracing the technology in some ways. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced it’s collaborating with production companies in London and Los Angeles to make a full-length animated film primarily with AI. But with Gunn’s sarcastic remarks about AI Batman, it’s clear that we probably won’t see a fully AI-created superhero on the big screen anytime soon. Fans seem to love Gunn’s stance, with many on the DC subreddit praising his snarky response to the AI images.

Warner Bros and the broader entertainment industry are at a crossroads. As AI tools become more powerful and accessible, studios are grappling with how to protect their intellectual property while exploring new creative possibilities. For now, it seems that Hollywood’s biggest stars and filmmakers prefer the human touch when it comes to storytelling, even as AI continues to make headlines. The future of AI in movies remains uncertain, but one thing’s clear: the industry isn’t ready to give up on traditional filmmaking just yet.

Inspired by

• https://futurism.com/james-gunn-slams-ai-generated-batman

Sources

• gmpg.org
• bbc.com
• yahoo.com
• forbes.com
• reuters.com