Why Disney Canceled AI Plans For Two Major Films

Hollywood's AI Debate Heats Up

As artificial intelligence continues to advance at a breakneck pace, its role in Hollywood remains a subject of intense debate. Amid this industry-wide conversation, The Walt Disney Company has reportedly decided to scrap a couple of ambitious AI-powered ideas for its upcoming films due to the controversy surrounding the technology.

Moana's Canceled Digital Double

One of the projects affected is the highly anticipated live-action remake of Moana, which will see Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson return to his beloved role of Maui. According to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, the studio had a novel idea to create a "digital double" of the actor. The plan involved working with the AI company Metaphysic to generate deepfakes of Johnson's face, which could then be layered onto a body double's performance.

This technique would have effectively allowed Johnson to be in two places at once, a significant advantage for a high-demand star. While Johnson himself reportedly approved the plan, Disney grew concerned about the implications. The studio worried that it "ultimately couldn’t claim ownership over every element of the film if AI generated parts of it." Ultimately, the studio and the AI firm could not reach an agreement, and the innovative footage was scrapped.

Tron Ares Scraps AI Character

Disney's upcoming film Tron: Ares is thematically centered on artificial intelligence and its real-world consequences. In a move that would have blurred the line between fiction and reality, executives considered a unique marketing strategy: incorporating actual AI into the creation of a character.

WSJ sources noted that the plan was to have an AI-generated character act as a sidekick to Jeff Bridges' character. However, this idea was also abandoned. The primary reason was the potential for negative public reaction, as executives were reportedly told that "the company couldn’t risk the bad publicity."

Disney's Cautious Stance on AI

These decisions reflect Disney's highly protective stance on its intellectual property and brand image. The company's caution is further highlighted by its recent legal actions. Earlier this year, Disney, along with NBCUniversal, sued AI company Midjourney for copyright infringement, demonstrating its commitment to controlling how its IP is used in the age of generative AI.