The use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking continues to stir controversy, and the Joe and Anthony Russo’s film The Electric State is the latest project to become a flashpoint. The brothers recently revealed that they employed AI in their critically-panned science fiction movie, which reportedly carried a $320 million budget, during an interview with the Times.
Joe Russo explained that the technology was used for voice modulation, describing the process casually as something anyone could do after watching a tutorial video. He argued that AI use is already common in Hollywood, though rarely acknowledged openly due to fear. “There’s a lot of finger-pointing and hyperbole because people are afraid,” he said. “They don’t understand. But ultimately you’ll see AI used more significantly.”
Russo also commented on the limitations of AI, noting its current inability to perform “mission-critical work.” He said, it’s not being used extensively for surgeries or in self-driving cars because it still “hallucinates.” He did suggest, however, that AI is well-suited for creative work, and that its current “generative state” is beneficial for filmmaking.
This revelation comes at a time of heightened debate surrounding AI’s role. The Netflix documentary about Gabby Petito was criticized for recreating her voice with AI, even though the filmmakers said they had family permission. The Brutalist became contentious during the 2025 Oscar season for using AI to enhance dialogue and generate architectural designs. Actor Adrien Brody said that even the mere mention of AI could be “triggering,” but tried to assure people that the technology hadn’t replaced anyone’s work.
The impact of AI on human creatives has been a recurring theme. Tony Gilroy, showrunner for Andor, scrapped plans to release the show’s scripts, fearing that AI could obtain the material. He told Collider, “In the end, it would be 1,500 pages that came directly off this desk… Why help the f***ing robots anymore than you can?”
