‘Iron Man’ Cinematographer Matthew Libatique Says AI ‘Could Replace Marvel’ VFX, but They’ll Never ‘Use AI Actors’
Cinematographer Matthew Libatique says artificial intelligence could help Marvel and DC reduce the cost of visual effects, but he does not expect it to replace cinema or human performers. He is testing AI with director Darren Aronofsky for their next collaboration, while stressing that their filmmaking process will remain grounded in human work on set.
Libatique said the filmmakers want to explore how camera footage can be used with the technology and what it can produce. He pointed to films built around extensive digital environments, such as Zack Snyder’s *300*, as examples of work AI might emulate, while arguing that audiences still value human connection. He also said he could not imagine Marvel using AI actors to replace performers such as Robert Downey Jr. or Chris Evans.
In short
- Libatique and Aronofsky are testing AI for their next film.
- He says AI could cut superhero visual-effects costs.
- He does not expect AI actors to replace human performers.
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The case for
AI could help studios reduce the high cost of visual effects and create digital environments more efficiently, potentially making ambitious films easier to produce. If used to extend human-led filmmaking rather than replace it, the technology could give directors and cinematographers new creative tools while performers and crews remain central.
The case against
Using AI to generate visual effects could weaken the distinctive craft and creative control of human artists, even if it lowers costs. More broadly, audiences may value the connection created by real performers and human collaboration so much that AI-driven production risks making films feel less personal or authentic.
Explained simply
Visual effects create images or settings that would be difficult or costly to film in real life. Marvel and DC films often rely on this work to depict superheroes and imagined worlds, and studios may explore new tools to manage its cost.
Matthew Libatique is a cinematographer, responsible for how a film is shot and looks on screen. He is exploring AI with director Darren Aronofsky, while describing their filmmaking as centred on people working on set.
AI-generated visuals and performances raise questions about how films are made and who does the creative work. Actors such as Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans are well-known performers in superhero films, and the distinction between digital effects and human acting is part of the discussion.
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