The era of AI is eroding the traditional security of Hollywood stardom. For a figure like Kevin Hart, whose omnipresence across films and ads once guaranteed success, new threats emerge from unofficial, AI-generated versions of his voice. “The most valuable resource right now is attention,” said Jeff Clanagan, head of Hart’s entertainment company, highlighting a fragmented media landscape where AI acts as both a risk and a potential tool.
This disruption is no longer theoretical. Synthetic performers like Japan’s Hatsune Miku and AI influencer Lil Miquela have amassed major followings. Their appeal to studios and brands is clear: they don’t age, negotiate, or carry baggage. The arrival of Tilly Norwood, a photorealistic AI-generated actress, triggered an immediate industry backlash, with SAG-AFTRA warning of “stolen performances” and actor Emily Blunt reacting with dismay.
The debate now centers on protection and control. Agencies like CAA are creating digital vaults to secure clients’ likenesses, aiming to give talent authority over their AI use. While producers like Jerry Bruckheimer see AI as a useful tool, veterans like Stellan Skarsgård express deep concern over posthumous rights, underscoring the urgent ethical and economic battle defining Hollywood’s future.