AI ‘Actor’ Tilly Norwood Sparks Hollywood Backlash

An AI talent studio has unveiled what it claims is the next Scarlett Johansson, triggering fierce opposition from actors and highlighting growing tensions over synthetic performers in the entertainment industry. Tilly Norwood, created by AI studio Xicoia and unveiled at the Zurich film festival, has been met with widespread criticism from industry professionals concerned about job displacement and the future of human performance.

Context and Background

Despite having no physical existence, Norwood has already secured talent agency representation, with studios reportedly expressing interest in working with the AI creation. The synthetic performer’s appearance combines features reminiscent of Gal Gadot, Ana de Armas, and Vanessa Hudgens, though technical imperfections remain visible in her debut comedy sketch “AI Commissioner”.

Industry backlash has been swift and vocal. Scream actress Melissa Barrera publicly condemned the talent agent involved, whilst Matilda star Mara Wilson questioned why hundreds of real young women whose features were composited couldn’t have been hired instead. The Fantastic Four’s Ralph Ineson offered a more succinct response, simply posting “Fuck off” on social media.

Norwood’s only performance to date—a two-minute AI-generated sketch—has garnered modest viewership of approximately 200,000 views over two months, significantly underperforming conventional entertainment content released during the same period.

Looking Forward

The controversy highlights fundamental questions about AI’s role in creative industries, particularly regarding job security for human performers. Whilst technical limitations currently constrain AI actors’ believability, the technology represents an attractive proposition for some producers: no salary negotiations, creative disagreements, or ageing concerns.

However, audience acceptance will ultimately determine whether synthetic performers become industry standard or remain a failed experiment. Industry observers note parallels with 3D cinema’s brief dominance following Avatar’s release, suggesting that commercial viability—not technological capability—will shape AI adoption in entertainment. The market’s tolerance for technically imperfect, algorithmically generated performances remains untested at scale.

Source Attribution:

Share this article