The Russo Brothers' latest Netflix film, The Electric State, has sparked significant conversation since its debut on Friday. Amidst the current industry climate, the film's use of AI, particularly for voice modulation, has become a focal point of discussion. Joe Russo, who co-directed the film with his brother Anthony, defended this choice, stating it was "something any 10-year-old could do after watching a TikTok video." In an interview with The Times, Joe Russo emphasized that the controversy stems from fear and misunderstanding of the technology. He believes that AI will become more prevalent in the future, saying, "Ultimately you’ll see AI used more significantly."
Russo further elaborated on the potential of AI, noting its current "generative state," which he described as prone to "hallucinations." He explained that this makes AI unsuitable for mission-critical tasks like self-driving cars or AI-assisted surgery. However, he sees AI as an asset in creative fields. "But in its generative state, AI is best suited towards creativity," Russo remarked. Despite many artists feeling that AI is the opposite of creativity, some studios are eager to leverage the technology once it's fully developed. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, in a July 2024 statement, asserted that audiences "don’t care" about AI's use in their entertainment and that it's "a great way for creators to tell better stories." Sarandos also highlighted the evolution of animation from hand-drawn to CG, noting that it has not only improved the quality but also expanded the industry, suggesting a similar trajectory for AI in content creation.
Not all are on board with AI's rapid integration into creative processes. Last month, Marvel denied using AI to create teaser posters for their upcoming film The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite some visual anomalies in the artwork. The Electric State was directed and produced by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a script by Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus, adapted from Simon Stalenhag's 2018 illustrated novel. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Woody Harrelson, Jason Alexander, Anthony Mackie, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito, Brian Cox, and Stanley Tucci.
IGN's review of The Electric State was less than favorable, rating it a 4/10 and describing it as "Marvel’s biggest hitmakers join forces again with the Netflix algorithm to deliver The Electric State, a $300-million anti-event movie." Despite this, the Russo Brothers are set to direct the next two Avengers films for Marvel Studios: Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.
