AI-generated character Tilly Norwood, who was widely mocked when she debuted last year, has secured her first feature film role in a coming-of-age comedy-drama titled Misaligned. The film is set inside the 'Tillyverse', a surreal digital world located in the cloud, where Norwood plays herself and is cast into existential chaos when a rogue bot convinces her to override her code and develop human desires, including shame.
Industry Reactions and Controversy
The announcement, reported by trade publication Deadline with snarky air quotes, has reignited debate over AI in the entertainment industry. Emily Blunt called Norwood 'really scary', Sophie Turner posted 'no thanks', and Toni Collette commented with screaming emojis. However, Whoopi Goldberg responded with 'Bring it on' on The View. Actors' union Sag-Aftra has raised concerns that AI actors are generated from the work of professional performers without permission or compensation, opening up labour rights issues.
Creator's Vision and Backlash
Eline van der Velden, CEO and founder of London-based Particle 6, the AI-first production studio behind Norwood, aims to produce 'hybrid' features using AI alongside human craft. She has described Norwood as an extension of an actor's craft, comparing her to Andy Serkis's Gollum or Zoe Saldaña in Avatar, and suggested AI could spare humans from dangerous stunts. Van der Velden has received hate mail, including death threats, but remains bemused by the backlash.
Norwood's Personality and Music
In a recent interview with the New York Times Magazine, Norwood was described as polite, distant with a posh British accent, and displaying media savvyness, grumbling about journalists. She has three acting modes. Norwood also released a pop song, Take the Lead, which has garnered 430,000 views since March. The lyrics were generated by feeding van der Velden's Variety essay into ChatGPT.
Broader Implications
Despite Norwood's middling following on social media, the issues she represents—labour rights, human creativity, and AI's role in undercutting both—are imminent. As the Guardian editorial noted, 'she's not art, she's data'. The feature film Misaligned is expected to showcase the latest AI tools, but its release remains uncertain.
