AI-Generated Movie Script Premiere Cancelled After Public Backlash

A London cinema has canceled the premiere of “The Last Screenwriter,” a film featuring a script entirely generated by AI, after receiving significant public backlash. The Prince Charles Cinema, known for screening cult and art films, was set to debut the Swiss production on Sunday. However, the cinema announced the cancellation on social media, citing strong concerns from its audience regarding the use of AI in place of human writers.

Directed by Peter Luisi and starring Nicholas Pople, “The Last Screenwriter” tells the story of a celebrated screenwriter who encounters an advanced AI scriptwriting system that surpasses his own abilities. The screenplay is credited to “ChatGPT 4.0,” a model launched by OpenAI in May. Luisi said a private screening for the cast and crew would still occur in Londoncellati despite the canon.

Luisi believes the backlash stems from a lack of understanding about the project. He stated, “If screenwriters take the time to watch the movie and read about the process and why we did this film, I can’t imagine they’ll condemn us.” He emphasized that the film was intended to contribute to the ongoing conversation about AI’s role in the industry.

The use of AI in the film industry remains controversial. Last year’s Hollywood writers’ strike highlighted demands for formal protections against AI integration in writing. This led to an agreement that, while AI can generate script drafts, writers will always receive credit for their work. Additionally, the issue of performance cloning was brought to the forefront by Scarlett Johansson’s complaint about an AI company using a voice replica of her without permission.