A viral AI-generated video showing the likenesses of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt engaged in a dramatic fistfight has left Hollywood both stunned and deeply uneasy, as concerns grow over the rapid advance of generative artificial intelligence.
Oscar-nominated Irish filmmaker Ruairí Robinson shared the first clip Tuesday on social media. The 15-second video depicts AI versions of Cruise and Pitt brawling on a Los Angeles overpass in a sequence that looks strikingly polished for something created outside a studio system.
“This was a 2-line prompt in Seedance 2,” Robinson wrote, referring to Seedance 2.0, a new generative AI video model developed by ByteDance, the Chinese company best known as the owner of TikTok. The clip has already surpassed 1.4 million views.
Robinson followed up with a second video featuring AI-generated dialogue between the two stars, both of whom famously appeared together in Interview With the Vampire. That clip has drawn even more attention, amassing more than 3 million views.
The realism of the voices and imagery has fueled renewed debate about consent, copyright, and the future of creative work. Entertainment Weekly reported that it has reached out to representatives for Cruise and Pitt for comment, as well as ByteDance.
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing roughly 170,000 actors and performers worldwide, condemned the technology behind the videos. In a statement, the union accused ByteDance of enabling widespread infringement through the unauthorized use of actors’ voices and likenesses.
The organization warned that such practices threaten the livelihoods of performers and undermine ethical standards for AI development, arguing that responsible innovation must include consent and legal safeguards.
The Motion Picture Association also joined in criticism of ByteDance, adding to mounting pressure from the entertainment industry as AI tools become more sophisticated and accessible.
Screenwriter Rhett Reese, known for writing the Deadpool films, was among those shaken by the video’s quality. Sharing the clip online, he initially reacted with bleak humor, writing, “It’s likely over for us.”
Reese later clarified that his reaction was anything but casual. He said he was terrified about AI’s encroachment into creative industries, noting that many careers could be at risk — including his own.
He described being “blown away” by how professional and realistic the Cruise-Pitt fight appeared, adding that the very impressiveness of the clip is what makes it frightening.
The viral videos arrive at a moment when Hollywood is already grappling with the implications of AI-generated performances, deepfakes, and digital replicas. With more than two dozen states now requiring cursive instruction in schools and other cultural debates unfolding nationwide, the entertainment industry faces a different kind of literacy challenge: how to navigate an era where images, voices, and even entire performances can be conjured with a simple prompt.
Source: Entertainment Weekly