Renner threatens huge lawsuit over AI voice use

Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner is locked in a fierce public clash with director Yi Zhou over a disputed AI-driven project that has cast fresh light on the uneasy intersection of celebrity power, digital creation, and personal accusation in the film industry.

The dispute erupted when Renner, through his lawyer Marty Singer, vowed to pursue multimillion-dollar legal action over what he described as the unauthorised use of his voice in an AI-animated film produced under Zhou's banner.

The warning came with a cease-and-desist notice rejecting any claim of Renner's involvement beyond an interview for a Disney-centred documentary completed earlier this year. Zhou swiftly countered, insisting that Renner knowingly agreed to participate in more than one project.

Zhou cited a talent release form signed in September, which she said covered the documentary and all related or developed works. She also claimed that Renner took part in a follow-up session in August and that the second film evolved naturally from the first.

The director emphasised that the voice used in the AI-themed feature was "entirely real and not artificially generated," adding that using an actor's voice without consent "would be unlawful."

The clash quickly gained traction online as fans, legal experts, and film watchers debated whether Renner had been misled, whether AI had been misused, and whether his digital likeness and voice had been handled fairly.

Social media users circulated screenshots of Singer's letter and dissected every line, pushing hashtags linked to Renner, Zhou, and the film 'Stardust Future'. Some accused Zhou of fabricating documents, while others claimed Renner was attempting to distance himself from a creative project he now found inconvenient with awards season approaching.

Zhou responded by alleging that she had, in fact, sent a cease-and-desist notice to Renner weeks earlier, accusing him of harassment. She further claimed that Singer's involvement represented a conflict of interest because his law firm had previously represented her.

The controversy deepened when Zhou pointed to a Variety announcement that already listed Renner as part of the project and stated that the film would support wildfire recovery efforts in California.

Renner's representatives said they were blindsided and argued that no consent had been given for any participation beyond the Disney documentary. The dispute remains unresolved, with Renner's team maintaining that no new filings have been made, while Zhou insists that every step taken has been entirely lawful.