Wahlberg open to AI clone carrying on his legacy, if AI used 'the right way'
Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt, actor and director Mark Wahlberg said AI has a place in filmmaking as long as it is used "the right way." He said he may use AI to enhance elements such as the stadium setting of his upcoming Pete Rose biopic, but rejected the idea of feeding an idea to ChatGPT for a script and making a film without real actors; he has not visited CAA Vault's scanning facility but said he would be interested, and he would not oppose an AI version of his likeness continuing the animated series "Ted" after he is gone. A commentary republished by 36Kr and Huxiu contrasts his stance with Nicolas Cage, who said he refused to sign an "AI authorization waiver" for Amazon Prime Video's Spider-Noir, and cites Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos saying generative AI workflows had been used in roughly 300 Netflix productions, alongside a Chinese Supreme People's Court opinion on AI likeness disputes.
The reports frame Wahlberg's remarks as an example of Hollywood's split over AI: he welcomes licensing his own digital likeness while arguing AI should not replace real actors.
Even as Hollywood remains divided over the use of AI in filmmaking, actor and director Mark Wahlberg believes the technology has a place in the industry as long as it’s used the right way.
Wahlberg, who’s also an entrepreneur and angel investor, took the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt to share his perspective on AI’s role in filmmaking, and how he’s open to having an AI likeness of himself carry on his legacy.
The actor said he plans to potentially use AI to enhance certain aspects of the upcoming Pete Rose biopic, in which he’ll star in the title role.
“It’s a fairly expensive movie, but, we’re talking about utilizing [AI] to enhance the stadium setting, things of that nature,” Wahlberg said. “I don’t think you should just, you know, put an idea into ChatGPT and it puts out a script, and then you should go make that and not use real actors. But if you can use it to enhance what you’re doing, I’m all for that.”
That said, Wahlberg made special mention of his belief that storytelling should remain at the heart of filmmaking.
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