AI-generated Tom Cruise vs. Brad Pitt video prompts industry job concerns
A 15-second AI-generated video of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting, created by Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson using Seedance 2.0 (owned by ByteDance), prompted the Motion Picture Association and SAG-AFTRA to condemn unauthorized use of copyrighted works and actors' likenesses. Hollywood screenwriter Rhett Reese warned the technology poses significant threats to screenwriting jobs and the film industry's employment structure.
What happened
Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson posted a 15-second AI-generated video depicting Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting on a rooftop, created using Seedance 2.0, owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that is the parent of TikTok.
The Motion Picture Association stated that Seedance 2.0 had engaged in 'unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale' without meaningful safeguards against infringement. SAG-AFTRA condemned the service for unauthorized use of members' voices and likenesses, stating it 'disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent.'
Reported impact
Screenwriter Rhett Reese warned that 'It's likely over for us' in response to the video. Reese later expressed fear that 'so many people' he cares about 'could lose their beloved profession' and stated he himself is endangered by the technology.
Reese predicted that soon a single person at a computer would be able to create films indistinguishable from current Hollywood output, potentially disrupting the industry's employment structure.
Index analysis
The video demonstrates the capability of Seedance 2.0 to generate photorealistic synthetic video of recognizable individuals with brief text prompts, raising concerns about the feasibility of creating commercial-quality media without consent or compensation.
Governance controls
The MPA called on ByteDance to 'immediately cease its infringing activity,' citing well-established copyright law. The incident reflects an absence of safeguards in Seedance 2.0's deployment.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.