The condition of the writers’ and screen actors’ strike gets worse as a new update is reported by a website NPR which speaks about another side of Disney. The writers and actors were already concerned that they would be replaced by Artificial Intelligence (AI). But it looks like their worst nightmares have already started to turn true as it is reported that WandaVision background actors reveal a horrifying new detail.
Besides a demand for better paychecks, one of the other main reasons for the strikes was the battle against AI. The internet is enraged to the core as a new report by NPR shows that Disney has allegedly taken it beyond the limits after making digital replicas of the WandaVision background actors without any prior consent.
What happened with the background actors of WandaVision?
Everyone is aware of the fact that new-generation technology has been a common thing in Hollywood for a long time. There are reasons why the visuals are so heavily praised by the masses. But nobody certainly expected an episode of Black Mirror to turn reality. According to NPR, the company didn’t take any consent from the actors before creating their digital replicas for future use.
WandaVision was released in 2021 and was the first MCU series on Disney+. The show involved a lot of extras as the story focused on Elizabeth Olsen‘s lead taking over an entire town with her magic. While the inhabitants of the town in the show were forced to live in Wanda’s reality without their knowledge, the fans were surprised that Disney also allegedly did something similar with the extras of the show. A background actor Alexandria Rubalcaba shared that they were put in front of a camera and were given instructions:
“Have your hands out. Have your hands in. Look this way. Look that way. Let us see your scared face. Let us see your surprised face. What if I don’t want to be on MarioVision or SarahVision? I fear that AI is eventually going to weed out background actors. They won’t have any use for us anymore.”
The actors’ faces and bodies were scanned for about 15 minutes and their digital replicas were made. If Rubalcaba is believed then they were not given any instructions on how their digital replicas would be used in the future. Another background actor also added nobody had a second choice but to follow the body scans as everyone was concerned about their jobs.
The fans slam Disney over their act
Recently controversies were also raised as a union negotiator revealed that the studios proposed a plan of paying one day’s salary when they would come for a scan and then the replicas can be used for eternity. The internet is already displeased by the studios’ treatment of their workers. But the latest update on WandaVision created an internet fire.
Let’s take a look at some fans’ reactions:
That’s messed up. No wonder the actors went on strike
— 𝕏periencer (@techy_ap) August 2, 2023
How ironic that Disney used the show about the evil Scarlet lady making people into puppets for her fictional show to make these actors’ images into puppets for more fictional shows.
Disgusting. https://t.co/nPRgyDU4mj
— Jazzy Oliver – Voice Actress (@LadyJazzington) August 3, 2023
These are mega corporations run by the richest people in the industry. How shameless and greedy you have to be to not just withhold payment but use and actively deceive your lowest wage workers!
— Mani Artist (@Mani_Haider_W) August 3, 2023
I honestly think we are about to see the film industry crash HARD https://t.co/c7ALgCfMgs
— Sammy (follow on Bluesky) (@TigheSammy) August 3, 2023
And y’all thought Black Mirror was just entertainment and not actually predictive programming
— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) August 2, 2023
The situation’s very heated presently and doesn’t look to get any better soon. Experts suggest that this AI takeover will be profitable to the studios at the cost of innumerable jobs. While the SAG-AFTRA doesn’t ignore the use of AI completely, they want a fair deal.
Also Read: Upcoming MCU Show and Spiritual Successor to Elizabeth Olsen’s WandaVision Gets Disappointing Update
As WandaVision’s spiritual successor Agatha: Coven of Chaos is also in the pipeline of 2024’s MCU slate, it is also reported to face a delay due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Recently when the Secret Invasion aired, the AI usage in its intro was heavily criticized. On top of that, this news on WandaVision can have a severe impact on the audience’s reception of future MCU projects.
Source: NPR
