Natasha Lyonne will make her directorial debut with a film about video games that will use ethical AI elements.
An article by The Hollywood Reporter revealed that she will be collaborating on the film Uncanny Valley with tech innovator Jaron Lanier, and produced through the AI-based studio Asteria, founded by Lyonne and filmmaker Bryn Mooser.
The star has directed several episodes of her Netflix series Russian Doll and Poker Face, but this will be her feature directorial debut, which she has written alongside actor Brit Marling. The plot is described in the article as being “Centered on a teenage girl who becomes unmoored by a hugely popular AR video game in a parallel present, the movie will blend traditional live-action and game elements”.
The game elements will be brought to the screen by an AI model called Marey, created by Asteria’s partner Moonvalley. Unlike other AI products, Marey is built solely on data that has been copyright-cleared, creating a more ethical use of the technology in principle.
An Asteria representative told the outlet that the film will be “a radical new cinematic experience”. No release date has been revealed for the project, not whether it will debut in cinemas or on streaming.
AI has been a divisive topic in Hollywood, with Oscar contenders The Brutalist and Emilia Perez being criticised for using AI to alter elements of performances. However, those behind Uncanny Valley have argues a more human approach could lead to a creative collaboration with the technology.
Asteria co-founder Mooser said of the project: “When artists lead the tech instead of the other way round, trailblazing and unexpected advancements are possible”.
Lyonne is not the only filmmaker exploring the possibilities of this technology. In April, Avatar director James Cameron said he was exploring how AI could “cut costs in half” for a production without “laying off half the staff”.