No Locations, No Sets, All AI
An upcoming Bitcoin biopic called "Killing Satoshi" has become a flashpoint in the debate over generative AI in filmmaking after details emerged revealing the production will use AI to generate all backgrounds and scenery, with no shooting on physical locations. The film, directed by Doug Liman and starring Pete Davidson and Casey Affleck, will also use AI technology to adjust actor performances in place of traditional reshoots. Written by Nick Schenk, who penned "Gran Torino," and produced by Ryan Kavanaugh, the film tells the story of the mysterious Bitcoin creator who published the foundational cryptocurrency white paper in 2008 under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.
The controversy erupted after a U.K. casting notice revealed that actors would perform on a "markerless performative capture stage" using "new AI technologies" rather than on any physical locations. The notice stated that producers reserve the right to "change, add to, take from, translate, reformat or reprocess" performances using "generative artificial intelligence and/or machine learning technologies," potentially adjusting lip movements, facial expressions, and body movements.
AI-Generated Actors Were Listed Too
The casting notice went further, stating that performers who sign on "acknowledge they may be sharing scenes with AI-generated performers." This detail generated immediate backlash from actors, industry professionals, and AI critics. A source close to the production told Variety that the reference to AI actors was included "in error" and that no AI-generated performers will appear in the finished film. The source confirmed, however, that AI will be used for all environmental visuals and for tweaking performances.
Producer Ryan Kavanaugh defended the approach, stating the production was "very cautious, sensitive and overly protective of our actors" and that AI would serve as a tool to make filmmaking more efficient "while maintaining all department heads' jobs, all actor jobs and hopefully helping to grow the industry in a positive way."
Labor Implications at a Critical Moment
The timing could not be more charged. SAG-AFTRA began film and television contract negotiations with major studios and streamers on February 9, and the question of synthetic performances versus human labor sits at the center of those talks. Unions are pushing for contractual and legislative protections around name, image, and likeness rights for actors at all levels. The casting notice's language about reprocessing performances goes directly to the compensation and consent issues winding through federal courts and labor negotiations.
Production Moves Forward
Despite the controversy, "Killing Satoshi" is proceeding with production in the U.K. from late February through March. No release date has been announced. Many industry observers view the film as a potential bellwether for how Hollywood navigates the integration of generative AI into production workflows. Whether it proves that AI can enhance filmmaking without displacing human artistry, or becomes a cautionary tale about the erosion of creative labor, may depend on how the finished product compares to audience and industry expectations.
This article is based on reporting by Mashable. Read the original article.
