When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
Gladiator director Ridley Scott has recently shifted his stance on artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking, recognizing its growing influence and creative possibilities.
Scott, who once spurred public opinion by describing AI as a “technical hydrogen bomb” due to fears it could lead to disastrous outcomes, has now reversed his stance.
New Potential for Enhanced Storytelling?
According to an Empire Magazine report, Scott is now embracing AI in filmmaking, acknowledging its potential to boost creativity and streamline production.
This new development comes on the heels of the production of Gladiator II, 20 years after the original Oscar-winning film. The director revealed that they began “the film with probably the biggest action sequence I’ve ever done. Probably bigger than anything in Napoleon.”
El primer trailer de “Gladiator II” ya está aquí😍😍😍
¿Qué os parece?
pic.twitter.com/R8FglqzDPD— R E P L I C A N T (@Roybattyforever) July 9, 2024
Gladiator II is the highly anticipated sequel to the Academy Award-winning film Gladiator, which chronicled the story of Maximus (played by Russell Crowe), a Roman general betrayed by the ruthless Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).
The sequel continues where the original left off, introducing a new warrior who emerges in the arena. Boasting an all-star cast, Gladiator II features Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, and Denzel Washington in leading roles.
While the first trailer glimpses a huge rhino, Scott disclosed that he had to harness some techniques to give the beast such a look.
“Computerization and AI, you have to embrace it. I can have a computer read every molecule and wrinkle on a rhino and then cut it on a thick piece of plastic, absolutely as a rhino’s body, which is then tailored to a skeleton shape,” Ridley explained.
This shift reflects a broader acceptance of AI in Hollywood, where directors and producers are exploring how the technology can push the boundaries of what’s possible on screen.
AI’s Growing Role in Filmmaking
AI’s role in the film industry has grown significantly in recent years, influencing everything from scriptwriting to post-production.
Filmmakers are already experimenting with AI to analyze audience reactions, generate realistic digital characters, and even license actors’ voices for future use. For instance, Disney’s FaceDirector software is widely used to generate composite facial expressions from multiple takes. This technology was used in Avengers: Infinity War to adjust the performance of actors in post-production, especially emotional expressions in complex CGI scenes. Deepfakes, though controversial, have been used for face swaps in movies, allowing engineers to age and de-aged actors, which is a cheaper substitute to using traditional CGI.
Watch Bill Whitaker de-age 30 years thanks to deepfake technology engineered by visual effects artist Chris Umé. Umé is the creator of the DeepTomCruise deepfakes parodying the actor Tom Cruise. https://t.co/HYZqIGi0SQ pic.twitter.com/fgTwW7O5qv
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 10, 2021
Furthermore, actors have started licensing their voices, allowing AI to generate voiceovers for future projects, even after the actor has retired. While controversial, this development highlights AI’s growing influence in the industry.
