In a recent interview with Deadline, Simu Liu, who stars in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, said that the idea of AI replacing background actors was “so antithetical” to him. This is because, besides being the foundation of his career, sharing knowledge and experience on set and watching others do the same provides valuable hands-on learning opportunities for future talents. Liu makes a strong point: if studios focus on cutting costs instead of maintaining the human element of storytelling, what’s left that’s worth admiring?
Simu Liu’s Warning Against AI Replacing Background Actors
Similar to Liu, many Hollywood stars began their careers as background actors. This list includes Samuel L. Jackson, Bradley Cooper, Brie Larson, Angela Bassett, and Viola Davis, who is among the few actresses to have achieved EGOT status, to name just a few. Whether it’s silent background actors, stunt performers, or extras with a single line, these roles have been the foundation of many actors’ careers before they became household names. They were roles that helped actors make a living, build connections, and sustain their careers until they broke through and became famous.
“I think if I was able to learn from that experience, then how many other people are doing the same,” Liu told Deadline. “In depriving the world of background actors, you’re also depriving people the opportunity to kind of pick up these skills.”
Background Roles Have Always Built Hollywood Careers
His point about how AI being used to replace actors is a disturbing one. In an effort to streamline film production, potentially reducing the time it takes to make a movie or cutting costs slightly, AI used this way creates a future problem where emerging talent might be overlooked because they aren’t even given the standard entry point to develop a career in Hollywood. Liu’s point is more than just a personal opinion, it’s a warning that there will be potential ramifications to the shortcuts executives are willing to take today.
Guillermo del Toro’s Stand Against Generative AI
Similar to Liu, renowned filmmaker and Oscar-winning director Guillermo told NPR that he would “rather die” than use generative AI. His statement follows his previous remark about AI when asked if there were any parallels to his latest film Frankenstein, where he said that he wasn’t concerned with artificial intelligence but with “natural stupidity.”
Liu and del Toro’s perspectives reflect the concerns of many creatives as Hollywood struggles to integrate AI into its existing framework, revealing a widening gap between corporate interests and creative communities.
Humanity Can’t Be Divorced From Creativity
AI is clearly becoming part of every industry and doesn’t appear to be fading away soon. While it can be a valuable tool for creatives, it should never be used to replace or suppress the act of creativity itself. Only a few creatives in Hollywood reach the level of making it big, but most will never get that far and need the opportunities, no matter how small, that come through background actor roles. If AI replaces the creative process completely, even eliminating background actors from films, the short-term benefits that companies gain will never outweigh the long-term harm caused by the loss of discoverable talent that cutting those opportunities creates. We could very well lose the very elements in film that hold any touch of art.