Beyond the Spider-Verse producer denies use of “generative AI” amid controversy
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse will not utilise “generative AI”, says producer Christopher Miller.
This comes as Sony Pictures chief executive Tony Vinciquerra caused a stir at an investors conference by confirming the studio’s eagerness to shave production costs by adopting artificially intelligent practises for its projects going forward (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Upon learning this, one social media user felt compelled to beg Sony Animation not to compromise the next Spider-Verse movie with AI, which was spotted by Miller.
Related: Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse potential release date, cast and all you need to know
“Dear @SonyAnimation. Keep generative AI away from Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” they wrote on X.
“AI robs people of their jobs & produces nothing but slop. We don’t want that anywhere near this film or any film for that matter. Please keep it away from the filmmaking process. Thank you.”
Miller, who won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2019, was quick to squash such talk.
Retweeting this fan message, he came back with: “There is no generative AI in Beyond the Spider-Verse and there never will be. One of the main goals of the films is to create new visual styles that have never been seen in a studio CG film, not steal the generic plagiarised average of other artists’ work.”
Related: New Spider-Verse outing is now available to watch for free
Meanwhile, Jeff Morales voice actor Brian Tyree Henry provided an update on Beyond while speaking to Deadline recently, after the third Spider-Verse blockbuster was indefinitely delayed by last year’s Hollywood strikes.
“It’s in the works, it’s coming,” he said. “It’s in the works, for sure, and that one is even more epic than the last.”
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is available to watch at home now.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan’s work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment.
In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.
