The Russo Brothers' latest Netflix film, *The Electric State*, has sparked significant buzz since its debut on Friday. Amidst the current industry climate, the film's use of AI has become a hot topic of discussion among fans and critics alike.
Joe Russo, who co-directed *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame* with his brother Anthony, has staunchly defended the use of AI for voice modulation in *The Electric State*. In a recent interview with The Times, Russo remarked that the technology is "something any 10-year-old could do after watching a TikTok video." He further emphasized, "There’s a lot of finger-pointing and hyperbole because people are afraid. They don’t understand. But ultimately you’ll see AI used more significantly."
Russo sees a bright future for AI in the creative industry. "Also, AI is in its generative state now, where it has, as we call them, hallucinations. You can’t do mission-critical work with something that hallucinates," he explained. "That is a reason self-driving cars haven’t taken over, or why AI surgery is not taking place worldwide. But in its generative state, AI is best suited towards creativity."
However, the use of AI in creative fields remains controversial. Many artists across various disciplines view AI as the antithesis of creativity. Despite this, some studios are eager to adopt the technology. In July 2024, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos stated that audiences "don’t care" if AI is used in the films and television they consume. Sarandos believes AI can help "creators tell better stories."
"Animation didn't get cheaper, it got better in the move from hand-drawn to CG animation, and more people work in animation today than ever in history," Sarandos noted. "So I'm pretty sure there's a better business and a bigger business in making content 10% better than there is in making it 50% cheaper."
Not everyone is on board with AI integration. Last month, Marvel denied using AI to create teaser posters for their upcoming film, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, despite one image featuring a character with a four-fingered hand.
*The Electric State* was directed and produced by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a script by Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus, loosely based on Simon Stalenhag's 2018 illustrated novel. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Woody Harrelson, Jason Alexander, Anthony Mackie, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito, Brian Cox, and Stanley Tucci.
IGN's review of *The Electric State* gave it a 4/10, stating, "Marvel’s biggest hitmakers join forces again with the Netflix algorithm to deliver *The Electric State*, a $300-million anti-event movie."
Looking ahead, the Russo Brothers are set to direct the next two Avengers films for Marvel Studios: *Avengers: Doomsday* in 2026 and *Avengers: Secret Wars* in 2027.
