Emily Blunt has shared her alarm at the sudden arrival of Tilly Norwood, a computer-generated actress who is already attracting attention from Hollywood talent agencies. Speaking during an appearance on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, Blunt was shown the story of Norwood’s unveiling and immediately voiced her discomfort.
Blunt, who had been preparing for the Los Angeles premiere of her latest film The Smashing Machine, did not hide her reaction. After reading aloud the headline announcing Norwood’s debut, she exclaimed, “No, are you serious? That’s an AI? Good Lord, we’re screwed. That is really, really scary. Come on, agencies, don’t do that. Please stop. Please stop taking away our human connection.”
Norwood was developed by Xicoia, an AI-focused studio spun out from producer Eline Van der Velden’s Particle6 company. The digital actress was introduced at the Zurich Summit during the Zurich Film Festival and reportedly designed to resemble a blend of familiar Hollywood faces. Blunt was told that her likeness was being compared to Scarlett Johansson, to which she firmly replied, “But we have Scarlett Johansson.”
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The conversation highlights the growing tension in the entertainment industry over artificial intelligence and its potential impact on creative work. Just last year, AI was one of the central issues during the historic WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, where actors and writers demanded safeguards against having their images or voices replicated without permission. The unveiling of Norwood has sparked fresh backlash online, with performers such as Melissa Barrera and Lukas Gage voicing their objections.
Blunt’s unease echoes a wider fear that AI could threaten the authenticity of performance and diminish opportunities for human actors. Her comments are already being widely shared by fans and fellow entertainers, many of whom see her words as a direct challenge to agencies exploring AI talent.
The debate is unlikely to quiet down soon. Studios are reportedly experimenting with similar AI performers, and further announcements are expected in the coming months.
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