An artificial intelligence-generated performer called Tilly Norwood has been cast in the lead role of a feature film for the first time, marking a milestone in the use of synthetic actors in cinema.
London-based AI studio Particle 6 announced the production of the comedy-drama "Misaligned," which is currently in development. The film is set in a digital world called the "Tillyverse", with the AI-generated character at its centre.
The project has drawn sharp criticism from SAG-AFTRA, the actors' union condemning the use of an AI-generated figure in a leading role. The backlash reflects ongoing tensions between the entertainment industry and the rapid adoption of generative AI tools, a dispute that has intensified since the union's 2023 strike over protections against artificial replicas of performers.