AI video of Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt shakes Hollywood

Major Hollywood studios are up in arms about ByteDance’s new Seedance 2.0 AI model, which generated a now viral clip of actors Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting in an action sequence.

Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson posted a 15-second Seedance AI-generated video of Pitt and Cruise atop a terrace, which quickly garnered millions of views. He said it only took a “2 line prompt” to get the video.

Looking at the quality of work, Deadpool screenwriter Rhett Reese reposted the video, saying, “It’s likely over” for movie professionals.

Social media is flooded with several other Seedance videos of iconic movies and shows, including Titanic, Star Wars, and Stranger Things.

Hollywood associations, the MPA and SAG-AFTRA, accused China-based ByteDance of massive copyright infringement by allowing Seedance 2.0 to generate clips featuring real actors and established franchises. They also said it affects people’s livelihoods.

In response to the backlash, ByteDance stated it has suspended the ability to upload images of real people and is working on robust monitoring mechanisms.