SAG-AFTRA files complaint against Fortnite over AI use of James Earl Jones’ Darth Vader voice

SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Epic Games’ Llama Productions for using AI to recreate James Earl Jones’ voice as Darth Vader in Fortnite without union consent.

The union claims Epic bypassed human performers in favor of AI technology during a Star Wars-themed mini-season and failed to notify or negotiate with SAG-AFTRA. “They chose to replace the work of human performers with AI technology,” the union stated.

Although Jones passed away in 2024 at age 93, he had previously approved the use of his archival recordings to recreate his iconic voice for future Lucasfilm projects. According to Disney and Epic, his family also approved the voice’s use in Fortnite, emphasizing his desire to keep Darth Vader’s legacy alive for fans of all ages.

SAG-AFTRA, however, insists this usage was not cleared through proper union channels. “We welcome new technologies,” the union said, “but we must protect our members’ right to bargain terms around AI-generated performances.”

This complaint comes amid an ongoing strike between SAG-AFTRA and several game companies, including Epic’s Llama Productions. Recent contract negotiations addressed AI, removing a controversial one-time payment clause and requiring fair compensation for AI-based digital replicas.

The latest Fortnite update lets players interact with Darth Vader via conversational AI. Epic claims all player audio is securely processed and not stored.

Despite family approval and technological advancements, SAG-AFTRA’s complaint underscores the ongoing debate around AI, voice actors’ rights, and ethical usage of digital likenesses in gaming.