In a move that could set a crucial industry precedent, Nicolas Cage has revealed that he flatly refused to sign an Artificial Intelligence (AI) waiver while starring in Prime Video’s upcoming series, Spider-Noir.
Cage, 62, who stars as Ben Reilly/The Spider in the live-action show, admitted during a panel at New York Comic Con last week that he would not comply with Amazon Studios' request regarding digital replication rights.
As a direct consequence of his decision, Cage acknowledged that his relationship with the studio has likely come to an abrupt end.
Reports indicate that the core reason behind Cage’s refusal stems from Amazon’s deep financial ties and strategic investments in OpenAI.
Nicolas Cage’s Stance Against AI in Hollywood: A Contrast to Ben Affleck’s Embrace
“I'm probably not going to be working with that studio again, but that's OK,” Cage said. “I am not an AI-friendly actor.”
The firm stand taken by Cage comes at a pivotal moment, as AI-generated content and digital likeness rights continue to escalate at an astronomical rate across Hollywood.
In sharp contrast, fellow Hollywood star Ben Affleck appears far more receptive to the rise of AI in filmmaking.
Affleck's new Netflix thriller, Animals, recently drew widespread criticism over a viral stunt scene that heavily relies on generative technology. In the sequence, a kidnapped child in a small trailer is pushed over the steep wall of a Los Angeles drainage canal, catapulted into the air near the bottom, and then launched directly into Affleck’s waiting arms.
The visual quality of the sequence is strikingly unconvincing, practically screaming low-tier AI generation. While executing such a dangerous sequence in real life was obviously impossible, hiring a dedicated team of digital animators for traditional visual effects would have yielded a far superior result. Instead, the final product comes across as a cut-cornering move by the producers, favouring quick AI rendering over skilled craftsmanship.
Affleck's acceptance of the technology aligns with his technical background. In a recent candid interview with Fireside Alpha, the actor surprised fans by revealing a long-standing passion for computer programming and backend film tech.
“I’ve always been kind of into computers since I was young,” Affleck said. “Then, when film started to move from analog to digital, I became much more interested in that technical transition. The visual-effects workflow for years now has incorporated machine learning, so I can write pretty shitty Python scripts and stuff like that.”