Joe Russo, co-director of successful Avengers and Captain America films, has made a rather bold statement. In one interview, he said that fully AI-generated films would arrive in Hollywood within just two years. And it was not merely a wild guess. Russo sits on the boards of several AI companies and knows which direction the trends are heading. But is it really happening that fast?
What exactly did Russo say?
In an interview with the online magazine Collider, Russo stated that a wave of AI films would reach Hollywood within two years and that the industry needed to prepare for this new direction. From his words and experience, it was clear that he was not exaggerating. Russo is at the very center of events and has a front-row seat to AI’s progress.
However, it is important to note that he made this statement three years ago. The prediction has therefore not quite come true, and Hollywood will have to wait a little longer for its first film created entirely by artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, the first AI films already exist elsewhere in the world, and this trend is certainly not going away anytime soon.
Your avatar alongside Marilyn Monroe? Why not!
The most interesting part of Russo’s interview comes when he outlines the potential of AI in the hands of Generation Z, for whom technology is a completely natural part of life. He imagines a future in which a viewer simply tells their streaming platform: “I want a romantic comedy starring my photorealistic avatar and an avatar of Marilyn Monroe because I’ve had a hard day.” The platform would then generate it, including dialogue imitating realistic voices. An entire 90-minute custom-made film, ready in moments.
Does that sound like science fiction? Perhaps. But Russo is serious. According to him, rapid development and AI’s firmly established role will fundamentally transform the way stories are told and open the door to limitless possibilities.
The democratization of filmmaking, or the end of art?
Russo also sees AI as an opportunity for aspiring creators without large budgets. Artificial intelligence could make storytelling accessible to everyone, giving a voice to people who could not afford expensive productions. However, whether accessible tools and the widespread availability of filmmaking will truly bring new voices or merely a flood of mediocre content remains an open question.
Russo’s recent films, such as the $320 million The Electric State, have also received mostly negative reviews. For example, Futurism wryly remarked that they seem as though they were written by ChatGPT.
Reality vs. vision
Nevertheless, Russo remains a passionate advocate of AI in Hollywood and admits that he actively uses the technology. One example is the voice modulation in The Electric State, which, however, received a rather average rating from fans.
The film industry remains divided on this issue. While one group sees AI as a revolutionary tool, the other is concerned about jobs, copyright, and the very soul of cinema. One thing is certain, however: the debate is coming soon. And Joe Russo will undoubtedly be part of it.
