The Russo Brothers’ new Netflix film, The Electric State, has ignited discussions since its debut, particularly concerning its use of artificial intelligence.
Joe Russo, one half of the directing duo behind Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame alongside his brother Anthony, has addressed the debate. He defended the use of AI for voice modulation in The Electric State, describing it as “something any 10-year-old could do after watching a TikTok video.”
“There’s a lot of finger-pointing and hyperbole because people are afraid,” Joe Russo explained in an interview with The Times. “They don’t understand. But ultimately you’ll see AI used more significantly.” He sees potential in AI, adding, “Also, AI is in its generative state now, where it has, as we call them, hallucinations. You can’t do mission-critical work with something that hallucinates… But in its generative state, AI is best suited towards creativity.”
While many artists view AI as detrimental to creativity, some studios seem eager to utilize the technology when it’s ready. Back in July 2024, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos stated that audiences “don’t care” if AI is integrated into film and television. Sarandos went on to say that the technology is “a great way for creators to tell better stories.”
“Animation didn’t get cheaper, it got better in the move from hand-drawn to CG animation, and more people work in animation today than ever in history,” Sarandos said. “So I’m pretty sure there’s a better business and a bigger business in making content 10% better than there is in making it 50% cheaper.”
Not everyone is immediately embracing AI. Marvel recently denied using AI for teaser posters for the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite an image containing a character with a four-fingered hand.
The Electric State was directed and produced by Anthony and Joe Russo. The film’s script was written by Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus and loosely adapted from Simon Stalenhag’s 2018 illustrated novel of the same name. The cast includes Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Woody Harrelson, Jason Alexander, Anthony Mackie, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito, Brian Cox, and Stanley Tucci.
IGN’s review of The Electric State gave the film a 4/10 and stated: “Marvel’s biggest hitmakers join forces again with the Netflix algorithm to deliver The Electric State, a $300-million anti-event movie.”
The Russo Brothers are set to direct the next two Avengers movies for Marvel Studios: 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN.
