Of course. Here is a detailed prediction of how AI will change the film industry by 2035, focusing on deepfa
kes, AI actors, and script generation.
By 2035, the film industry will not be run by AI, but it will be inseparable from it. AI will be a ubiquit
ous, powerful, and often invisible tool integrated into every stage of the filmmaking process, from concept
to consumption. The landscape will be one of hybrid creativity, where human artists are augmented, chall
enged, and in some cases, partially displaced by sophisticated AI systems.
Here's a breakdown of the key changes:
1. Pre-Production: The Genesis of the Story
Script Generation as a "Super-Powered Co-Pilot":
By 2035, AI script generation will not be replacing writers, but acting as an indispensable partner.
- World-Building and Ideation: A writer will input a simple premise (e.g., "a noir detective story set
on a colonized Mars"). The AI will instantly generate detailed world lore, character backstories, potential
subplots, and even visual mood boards.
- Data-Driven Outlines: AI will analyze thousands of successful scripts to generate structurally sound
plot outlines optimized for specific genres and audience engagement. It can flag pacing issues, predict plo
t holes, and suggest alternative narrative paths. "Show me three alternate endings where the protagonist mak
es a different choice at the pivotal moment."
- Dialogue Assistance: While AI might struggle with nuanced, soulful dialogue, it will excel at genera
ting functional dialogue, variations of lines, or dialogue in the specific style of a historical period or a
uthor. The human writer will act as the master editor, refining and imbuing the script with authentic emotio
n.
AI-Driven Pre-visualization:
Directors will be able to generate entire animated storyboards or "pre-viz" sequences in minutes. A command
like, "Show me a 60-second car chase in the style of Mad Max, shot with a long lens from a low angle," wil
l produce a dynamic, editable video mock-up, revolutionizing how scenes are planned and budgeted.
2. Production: The Rise of the Digital Human
This is where the most visible and controversial changes will occur, driven by deepfakes and AI actors.
The "AI Actor" Spectrum:
"AI Actor" won't be a single concept but a spectrum of use cases:
- Digital De-aging and "Legacy Actors": This will be perfected and commonplace. An 80-year-old star wi
ll be able to convincingly play their 30-year-old self for an entire film. More profoundly, the estates of d
eceased icons (like Marilyn Monroe or James Dean) will license their digital likenesses for new roles. This
will create a new market for "Legacy Actors," governed by complex legal frameworks around "Digital Likeness
Rights."
- Fully Synthetic Actors: There will be a handful of successful, fully synthetic AI actors—virtual bei
ngs with their own "personalities," social media followings, and fan bases. They will star in animated featu
res or sci-fi films, but their primary advantage will be their ability to work 24/7, perform impossible stun
ts, and never age. However, they will likely lack the deep emotional resonance and "method acting" unpredict
ability of top-tier human talent.
- AI-Enhanced Extras: Crowd scenes with thousands of people will be generated by AI. Each digital extr
a will have unique behavior, reacting realistically to the on-screen action without the logistical nightmare
of managing thousands of real people.
Deepfakes as a Standard Production Tool:
Deepfake technology (or its advanced successor) will be a standard post-production and on-set tool.
- Seamless Dubbing (Visual Dubbing): This is a killer app. AI will not only translate and dub dialogue
into any language but will also seamlessly alter actors' lip movements to match the new audio perfectly. Th
is will eliminate subtitles and bad dubbing, allowing for truly global day-and-date releases where every aud
ience experiences the film natively.
- Digital Makeup and Stunt Doubles: Minor continuity errors, flawed makeup, or even altering a facial
expression in post-production will be trivial. The faces of stunt performers will be flawlessly replaced wit
h the lead actor's, making dangerous scenes safer and more believable.
3. Post-Production: The Automated Assembly Line
AI will handle the laborious, time-consuming aspects of post-production, freeing human artists to focus on p
ure creativity.
- Intelligent Editing: An AI will perform the initial assembly edit. It will analyze all the footage,
tag the best takes based on performance metrics (emotional intensity, clarity of speech, camera stability),
and assemble a rough cut of the entire film in a matter of hours. The human editor then takes this 90% solut
ion and refines it, focusing on pacing, rhythm, and emotional impact—the art of the edit.
- Automated VFX: Mundane tasks like rotoscoping (isolating objects), wire removal, and color grading w
ill be almost entirely automated. This will drastically lower the cost of high-quality visual effects, blurr
ing the line between indie films and blockbusters.
- Generative Sound Design: An AI will be able to generate entire soundscapes. A director could say, "G
ive me the ambient sound of a bustling futuristic city after a rainstorm," and the AI would create a rich, l
ayered audio track, complete with distant sirens, dripping water, and the hum of flying vehicles.
4. The New Industry Ecosystem and its Ethical Quandaries
The integration of AI will create new roles and massive ethical challenges that the industry will be activel
y grappling with by 2035.
- Changing Role of the Actor: Human actors will be valued more than ever for what AI cannot replicate:
genuine vulnerability, charisma, and the spark of unpredictable genius. However, the "middle class" of acti
ng (day players, extras, stunt performers) will be under significant pressure. Actors' contracts will includ
e highly detailed clauses on the use of their digital likeness, both during their life and after.
- New Creative Roles: New jobs will emerge, such as AI Prompt Artist, Digital Likeness Manager
, and AI Ethics Supervisor, who ensure the responsible use of these technologies.
- The Consent and Authenticity Crisis: The ability to resurrect dead actors or create flawless deepfak
es will raise profound questions. Can an AI truly consent on behalf of a deceased person's estate? Will audi
ences reject films starring "digital ghosts"? A film's marketing might even highlight that it was made with
"100% human performances" as a badge of honor.
- Homogenization vs. Democratization: The double-edged sword of AI. On one hand, data-driven script to
ols could lead to formulaic, risk-averse films designed by committee. On the other, AI-powered production to
ols will dramatically lower the barrier to entry, allowing a new generation of diverse, independent filmmake
rs to create epic-looking films on a shoestring budget.
The 2035 Snapshot:
Imagine a director on set. She's just filmed a scene with a real, human actor delivering a powerful monologu
e. On her monitor, she instructs the AI: "Show me the take again, but de-age the actor by 20 years for the f
lashback. And for the background, replace the green screen with the Martian landscape we generated yesterday
, and add a crowd of 500 AI-generated colonists reacting with awe."
This is the future of filmmaking in 2035: a seamless fusion of authentic human artistry and limitless digita
l creation. The fundamental human desire for storytelling will remain the same, but the tools used to tell t
hose stories will be powerful beyond what we can imagine today.