AI voice cloning used to enhance actors' Hungarian accents in The Brutalist film
Director Dávid Jancsó revealed that AI voice cloning was used to enhance the Hungarian accents of actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones in the film The Brutalist, sparking controversy over authenticity and potential job losses for voice actors and performers.
What happened
Director Dávid Jancsó disclosed that AI-powered voice cloning technology was employed to recreate the voices of actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones in order to refine their Hungarian accents and make their dialogue sound more authentic. The AI was used to refine specific vowel sounds and letters, blending the actors' performances with Jancsó's own voice for greater accuracy.
Jancsó also revealed that generative AI was used in the final sequence of The Brutalist to create a series of architectural drawings and finished buildings in the style of the main character.
Reported impact
The revelation sparked accusations that AI undermines the real authenticity of the actors' performances and could mislead audiences regarding their linguistic capabilities. Some people called for the film to be disqualified from the Academy Awards nominations.
For those impacted, particularly actors and industry professionals, the controversy raises concerns about job security and the potential erosion of traditional acting skills.
Index analysis
The decision to use AI arose from challenges associated with accurately pronouncing Hungarian, a language known for its complexity. Despite coaching, the filmmakers sought to ensure that even native speakers would not detect discrepancies in the actors' performances.
Governance controls
Director Brady Corbet stated that the process involved months of hard work and transparent communication between performers, mixers, and Respeecher's engineers, with feedback from the Hungarian team and sound department taken into account.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.