Well, well, well. With the recent waves about the Tom Cruise vs. Brad Pitt video from Seedance 2.0, and many other videos online (developed with various A.I. programs) featuring DC, Marvel, Spider-Man, Titanic, Shrek, Stranger Things, The Lord of the Rings, and more, where does Hollywood go from here?

Some comments have erupted online, with bits of despair and gloom, even though the programs can produce content that rivals what studios put out monthly. According to Variety, Rhett Reese, writer of the Deadpool films, stated, “In next to no time, one person is going to be able to sit at a computer and create a movie indistinguishable from what Hollywood now releases…I was blown away by the Pitt v Cruise video because it is so professional. That’s exactly why I’m scared.” “My glass half empty view is that Hollywood is about to be revolutionized/decimated.”

The rise of A.I. also makes the recent SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild strikes seem futile, especially as artificial intelligence in the workplace has been widely panned, and efforts have been made to halt its incorporation in production. According to the Los Angeles Times, a spokesperson from SAG-AFTRA stated, “This is unacceptable and undercuts the ability of human talent to earn a livelihood. Seedance 2.0 disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent…Responsible A.I. development demands responsibility, and that is nonexistent here.”

Whether there will be bans or copyright claims, one thing is for certain: these recent acts of A.I. integration have sent shockwaves through the Hollywood sphere. The question is, where does Hollywood go from here? Do Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise issue a statement to condemn these efforts, especially since both men have been renowned for trying to keep theatrical moviegoing alive?