Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker on the spooky timeliness of Joan is Awful episode

'Black Mirror' creator Charlie Brooker discusses the ongoing conversation about AI in the entertainment industry.

'Black Mirror' creator Charlie Brooker recently reflected on the "spooky" timeliness of the season 6 episode "Joan Is Awful." 

The episode, which explores the implications of AI technology, resonated with the real-life concerns raised during the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes last year.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Brooker mentioned seeing a photo of a picket line protester dressed as Joan in her cheerleader outfit, highlighting the episode's unexpected relevance to the ongoing conversation about AI replacing creative professionals in the entertainment industry.

The episode almost didn't happen, as Brooker initially intended season 6 to be a horror-themed "Red Mirror." However, inspired by The Dropout, he conceived the idea for "Joan Is Awful," focusing on the existential terror of having one's life turned into a streaming show without consent.

The episode's release before the ChatGPT conversation and subsequent strikes felt serendipitous to Brooker, who believes it contributed to the broader discussion about AI and its potential impact on the entertainment industry.

“A couple of times on the show, there’s been something I’ve written and then something similar happens in the real world similar-ish,” Brooker said. “Narcissistically, you start to feel like, ‘This is too big a coincidence. I feel like I’m living in a simulation.’”

While details about the upcoming Black Mirror season are scarce, Brooker confirmed that it will include a sequel to the popular "USS Callister" episode.