Jared Harris, the British actor known for roles in The Crown and Chernobyl, has instructed his lawyers to issue a cease and desist order after a podcast used artificial intelligence to recreate his image without permission.
The podcast, Films Not Made, uses AI to resurrect abandoned Hollywood film pitches. Promotional materials featured an AI-generated clip of Harris, who said he was not contacted about the project. The actor described the unauthorised use as “a perfect example of the concern creatives have over the misuse of AI”.
In a statement, Harris said: “My control over the use of my image is protected by contract and settled State and Federal law. I have not ceded that right through any prior professional association or relationship.” He added that the podcast is a commercial venture set up to benefit its creators.
The podcast’s co-host, Amy Hobby, told Deadline that Harris’s image had been removed from the trailer and other materials following his request. Co-host Avi Zev Weider had earlier said that actors were “fair game” because AI tools have been trained on everyone’s work without consent.
Harris’s representatives are easily accessible on IMDB, the actor noted, adding: “I am not difficult to reach.” He urged the podcast’s producers to remove his likeness and cease its use.
