Margot Robbie’s Neighbours scenes become AI microdrama without cast consultation
Neighbours footage featuring Margot Robbie is being recut with AI into a mobile-first microdrama, prompting concern from former cast members who say they were not consulted. The project raises questions about consent and how television archives can be reused as new formats and AI tools reshape the industry.
RoseBerry Media is adapting two storylines featuring Robbie’s character, Donna Freedman, who appeared on the soap from 2008 to 2011; together they will make about 150 minutes of vertical content for its Epis platform. Actor Matthew Werkmeister said he had not been notified and was unsure whether his original contract covered AI or vertical streaming, while Stefan Dennis called the project invasive and said he was seeking advice. The article says residuals are expected to be paid under existing agreements. The global microdrama market was estimated at up to US$15bn last year, and Neighbours has broadcast more than 9,300 episodes.
In short
- Robbie’s Neighbours storylines are being adapted into vertical phone episodes.
- Former cast members say they were not consulted about the project.
- The adaptation raises questions about consent and archive reuse.
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The case for
Reworking archive footage for vertical viewing could introduce Neighbours to new audiences and give existing material a commercial life in a growing format. If the original contracts permit this use and residuals are paid, the project may be a legitimate way to adapt television storytelling as viewing habits and technology change.
The case against
Actors can reasonably argue that contracts made for conventional television may not reflect meaningful consent to AI-assisted editing or a substantially different viewing format. Consultation could respect performers’ creative contributions and give them a chance to raise concerns about how their performances are presented, even where existing agreements allow reuse.
Explained simply
Neighbours is a long-running Australian television soap, and Margot Robbie played Donna Freedman on the show from 2008 to 2011, before becoming known internationally as a film actor. Television companies hold archives of past episodes, which can be edited into new formats for audiences watching on phones.
The issue is whether footage and performances made for television can be reused in this way, including with AI, without consulting the people who appeared in them. Actors’ contracts and payment agreements may shape what uses are allowed, but former cast members have raised questions about whether those agreements cover newer formats.
The project also reflects the growth of short, serialised videos made for mobile viewing. How archive material is reused matters to actors, broadcasters and viewers as the entertainment industry develops new ways to distribute older programmes.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Neighbours is being recut into a microdrama focused on Margot Robbie – and her co-stars aren’t happy”.