James Cameron Calls AI-Generated Actors “Horrifying” and Warns Hollywood Not to Cross the Line
James Cameron has always pushed film technology forward, but he’s drawing a very clear line in the sand when it comes to AI replacing human performers.
During a recent conversation on CBS’ Sunday Morning, the Avatar and The Terminator filmmaker opened up about the growing use of generative AI in Hollywood, and he wasn’t subtle about how much the idea rattles him.
Cameron explained that even back in 2005, when he was developing the first Avatar, people in Hollywood were convinced he planned to use computer graphics to phase out actors. He said that misunderstanding followed him for years.
He recalled, “For years, there was this sense that, ‘Oh, they’re doing something strange with computers and they’re replacing actors,’ when in fact, once you really drill down and you see what we’re doing, it’s a celebration of the actor-director moment.”
His approach to performance capture has always centered on real actors giving real performances. The digital layer comes after, but the soul of it remains human.
With generative AI now creeping deeper into the entertainment industry, Cameron is worried about what comes next. The idea that a studio could bypass actors entirely is something he wants no part of.
“Now, go to the other end of the spectrum, and you’ve got generative AI, where they can make up a character,” Cameron said. “They can make up an actor. They can make up a performance from scratch with a text prompt. It’s like, no. That’s horrifying to me. That’s the opposite. That’s exactly what we’re not doing.”
In September, comedian and producer Eline Van der Velden rolled out an AI performer named Tilly Norwood during a presentation at the Zurich Summit. She revealed that talent agencies were already expressing interest. That announcement didn’t land well. Many creators, actors, and filmmakers instantly raised alarms about what it could mean for real human talent.
Van der Velden previously acknowledged the blowback while also predicting that AI’s role will only continue to expand.
“I think it will be a slow progression,” she said. “I’m sure in the coming year, there’ll be plenty of effects that will be made with AI. There’ll be some establishing shots, there’ll be some second-unit shots with AI, and then slowly, we’ll progress to a full AI film.
“And whether people will pay for an AI film or not — I don’t think they’ll know the difference. It’s good storytelling that will be the reason why people will pay for it or not.”
The industry is clearly divided. On one side are filmmakers like Cameron who see AI-generated actors as a threat to authenticity. On the other are creators who believe AI is simply another tool that will grow more common as tech evolves.
But for Cameron, performance isn’t something you fabricate out of lines of text. It comes from people, chemistry, instinct, emotion. Replace that, and you’re replacing the art itself.
Whether Hollywood agrees or tries to push forward with fully synthetic stars is a conversation we’re going to be having for a long time.
Source: Variety