Gal Gadot on AI film Bitcoin role

Gal Gadot has publicly addressed her starring role in the upcoming AI-driven thriller Bitcoin. The actor explained her cautious approach to the technology on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, hosted by Josh Horowitz.

Gadot expressed a mix of fear and pragmatism regarding artificial intelligence. She insisted on engaging with the technology to understand it, stating the train has left the station and you must work with it or be out of the game completely.

The legal safeguards

Participation was not given lightly. Gadot revealed that her lawyers dedicated half a year to scrutinizing the film's contract. It was six months from her lawyers to go through every scenario they could think about as far as the AI component, she explained. Her primary concern was safeguarding her own performance from AI manipulation.

This legal diligence was so thorough it attracted attention from the actors' union. According to Gadot, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) contacted her legal team for advice. They sought pointers on how to update union contracts to better protect other performers in the age of AI.

The production's use of AI

The film, directed by Doug Liman, has garnered attention for its extensive and open use of artificial intelligence to reduce costs. Producer Ryan Kavanaugh has claimed the technology saved the production approximately $200 million. Bitcoin was reportedly filmed largely in an empty space, with AI generating the environments, backgrounds, lighting, and set construction.

Despite these savings, the film's budget is still reported to be $70 million. The cast includes high-profile names like Casey Affleck, Peter Davidson, and Isla Fisher alongside Gadot. The core production costs were kept modest, with a significant portion of the budget presumably allocated to this above-the-line talent.

Industry context and concerns

The report from Film Stories notes that the AI implementation replaced many traditional crew roles. Jobs that typically fill a movie's end credits were handled by technology. While the production did employ people, it could have hired dozens or even hundreds more crew members traditionally.

This reality creates a tension acknowledged by Gadot's comments. She stated she is trying to make the best of the new technological landscape while protecting what she can. The actor, whose net worth is reported to be in the tens of millions, could afford extensive legal protection for a single role. Her final words on the podcast reiterated her stance on trying to make the best of it and protect what she can protect.