AI ‘actor’ Tilly Norwood to star in a feature film after SAG-AFTRA backlash
Particle 6, an AI production company founded by Eline van der Velden, is developing a feature film called Misaligned that will star Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actor created as a digital character of code. Tilly Norwood was first introduced last fall by the AI talent studio Xicoia, immediately drawing strong backlash from SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, over concerns about AI’s impact on traditional actors.
Rather than backing down from the controversy, van der Velden’s company is moving forward with the film project as a “hybrid production” model that combines AI technology with human creative professionals, including directors, editors, and writers working alongside AI specialists. The film is described as a coming-of-age dramedy centered around “existential AI chaos,” with Tilly Norwood’s character existing in a digital world dealing with existential questions.
The development of Misaligned follows Xicoia’s response to union criticism by producing a single and music video promoting AI technology, demonstrating the company’s commitment to advancing AI in entertainment despite ongoing tensions with actors’ unions over job displacement concerns and the role of AI in the film industry.