Artificial intelligence has burst into Hollywood at dizzying speed and with alarming consequences.
What started as an experimental novelty has now become a full-blown industry crisis, as viral AI-generated movies and hyper-realistic 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 they had produced a “$200,000,000 AI movie in just one day.”
The video, created entirely with generative tools, went viral on X (formerly Twitter), racking up millions of views and sparking a debate about whether AI can truly replicate blockbuster cinema.
Supporters hailed it as evidence of a new era, while skeptics dismissed it as hype.
Still, the publication highlighted how quickly AI is encroaching on traditional production models.
Deepfake Shock: Tom Cruise vs. Brad Pitt in AI combat
If the Dor brothers’ movie was a provocation, the viral sequence of the AI fight between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt was a shock wave.
Created with Seedance 2.0, the 15-second clip showed the two megastars exchanging blows on a rooftop in stunning realism.
Variations of the video circulated online, complete with dialogue and camera angles, leaving the public unsettled.
Screenwriter Rhett Reese (Deadpool and Wolverine) warned bluntly: “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 a line on AI exploitation
In response, SAG-AFTRA has taken a hard line.
The union condemned Seedance 2.0’s use of actors’ images as a “blatant infringement” and called for a complete ban on AI creations featuring real movie stars.
It is argued that unauthorized reproduction of voices and faces undermines artists’ ability to earn a living and takes away their control over their identities.
The guild has worked for several years to protect AI, calling for strict consent requirements, compensation frameworks and federal safeguards.
Divided Hollywood: threat or opportunity?
Hollywood is now torn between alarm and opportunity.
Unions, screenwriters and many actors see AI as an existential threat.
They warn of job losses, creative theft and the collapse of artistic value if studios adopt AI without regulation.
Some studies and technologists argue that AI can be a powerful tool if used responsibly for pre-visualization, special effects or improving workflows.
They highlight that AI is not yet capable of producing real cinema-quality movies in 4K, highlighting its current limitations.
The road ahead: 2026 as a decisive year for cinema
2026 is shaping up to be a crucial year.
With studios investing billions in AI, unions mobilizing to protect themselves, and viral clips eroding trust, Hollywood faces a decisive choice: embrace AI wisely or risk chaos.
