Grimes signs on to star in an AI-generated movie headed for theaters in December

The first AI movie with a pop star in it is coming to a cinema near you, or at least near somebody. Grimes will appear in Gods Don't Give Gifts, an AI-generated science fiction film that opens December 4, Andrew Webster reports for The Verge.

The film is produced by AI studio Fable and directed by Jack London, better known online as Gossip Goblin. It's billed as the first AI film to reach theaters. Grimes provides both her likeness and a vocal performance.

The pitch

It's an anthology of four linked stories imagining a future in which bodies can be thrown away and consciousness is bought and sold, which suits Grimes, who has explored transhumanism and AI in her work before. She also has an AI-themed album, Psy Opera, in progress.

Fable's press release argues this casting model will spread: actors, athletes and musicians giving voice performances while lending their likeness to AI-animated films. In other words, the star provides the face and the voice, and the software provides everything else.

The reality check

There's no shortage of hype about AI in Hollywood. What's missing is a project that proves the technology is a real storytelling tool rather than a novelty. The Verge points to earlier attempts, including two different takes on The Odyssey, one made with Musk's Grok, that left a lot to be desired.

A recognizable name buys attention and a bit of legitimacy. It doesn't fix pacing, consistency or the uncanny valley. December 4 is the first real test of whether audiences will pay for a ticket to watch generated footage for a full feature, and for studios, that box office number will matter more than any demo reel.

For the people who animate, light and composite films for a living, the more consequential detail is the business model in Fable's release: licensed likeness plus voice, with the rest generated. If it works commercially, expect a lot more of it. If it doesn't, expect a lot of quiet rebranding.

Scoreboard update: Draw. An AI film lands a real star and a theatrical release, and still has to prove anyone wants to watch it.

Stay undead.