Actor Nicolas Cage said he refused to sign an artificial intelligence (AI) waiver while working on the Prime Video series Spider-Noir.
Cage, 62, spoke about the matter during a panel at New York Comic Con, IOL reported. He stars as Ben Reilly, also known as The Spider, in the live-action show.
The waiver was a request from Amazon Studios about the rights to make digital copies of him. Cage said he would not agree to it.
“I’m probably not going to be working with that studio again, but that’s OK,” Cage said. “I am not an AI-friendly actor.”
Cage accepted that his decision likely ended his working relationship with the studio, according to the report.
IOL said reports point to one main reason for his refusal. Amazon has large financial ties to OpenAI and has invested in the company.
Cage attended the New York premiere of Spider-Noir on 13 May 2026.
His stand comes as AI content and the rights to actors’ digital faces and voices grow fast across Hollywood, IOL reported.
Not every big star shares his view. The report said actor Ben Affleck appears far more open to AI in filmmaking.
Affleck’s new Netflix thriller, Animals, drew wide criticism over a stunt scene that went viral. The scene relies heavily on generative AI, according to IOL.
In the scene, a kidnapped child sits in a small trailer. The trailer is pushed over the steep wall of a Los Angeles drainage canal. The trailer flies into the air near the bottom, and the child lands in Affleck’s arms.
The IOL writer said the scene looked unconvincing. The writer said filming such a stunt for real was impossible, but a team of digital animators would have done better work.
The writer also said the scene came across as producers cutting corners, choosing quick AI work over skilled craft.
Affleck’s openness to the technology matches his interest in computers. In an interview with Fireside Alpha, he said he has long enjoyed computer programming and film technology.
“I’ve always been kind of into computers since I was young,” Affleck said. “Then, when film started to move from analog to digital, I became much more interested in that technical transition.”
He said the visual effects workflow has used machine learning for years. He added that he can write basic Python scripts himself.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Entertainment. Image: IOL Entertainment. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Entertainment desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Rirhandzu Baloyi writes about entertainment for Tzaneen Voice. Rirhandzu covers South African music, film, TV, streaming, awards and celebrity news, from amapiano and local soapies to Showmax and Netflix releases. Stories stick to what happened, who was involved and when fans can watch or listen.