David Cronenberg Addresses AI Controversy in 'The Brutalist'

Director David Cronenberg suggests that the backlash over AI-modified accents in 'The Brutalist' was a strategic move by rival Oscar nominees to discredit the film, highlighting the ongoing debate over AI's role in cinematic authenticity.

Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Director David Cronenberg has addressed the controversy surrounding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to modify actor Adrien Brody's Hungarian accent in the film The Brutalist. Speaking at the London Soundtrack Festival, Cronenberg suggested that the backlash was orchestrated by competing Oscar nominees to undermine the film's credibility.

Cronenberg emphasized that altering actors' voices is a common practice in filmmaking, citing his 1993 film M. Butterfly as an example where he modified an actor's voice for the role. The controversy began when The Brutalist’s editor revealed that an AI tool was used to merge his voice with those of Brody and co-star Felicity Jones to create a more convincing accent. Director Brady Corbet defended the technique, asserting it aimed to maintain authenticity.

Despite the controversy, Brody won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Brutalist. Cronenberg's comments highlight the ongoing debate over AI’s role in cinematic authenticity and the ethical considerations surrounding its use in film production.