Ridley Scott Reverses Views on AI for “Gladiator II”
Ridley Scott reversed his views on AI and movie making due to his latest film, Gladiator II. In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, Scott revealed that the film will open with what he describes as “probably the biggest action sequence I’ve ever done.”.
Two decades after the original Gladiator captivated audiences and won multiple Oscars, Scott is returning with a fresh vision. The sequel stars Paul Mescal, with Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington joining the cast.
To achieve the film’s ambitious scope, Scott is turning to advanced technologies, including computerization and AI.
How AI helped to make Gladiator II
Scott detailed his approach to creating one of the film’s key action set pieces: a two-ton rhino, fully digitized and mounted on an electronic dolly. “Computerization and AI, you have to embrace it,” Scott explained. He described how the technology allowed him to replicate the exact physicality of a rhino, down to “every molecule and wrinkle,”
And then translate that into a lifelike, controllable model. “I have this thing that can do 40 mph, spin on the spot, wag its head, and snarl,” he added, emphasizing the technical marvel behind the scenes.
In addition to the rhino sequence, Gladiator II will feature a naval battle staged in a flooded amphitheater. It is complete with sharks in the water. This scene was something Scott had envisioned during the production of the original Gladiator but was unattainable due to the limitations of early 2000s technology.
“They wouldn’t have been able to really pull off something of that scale and magnitude, and now they are able to,” Scott said, reflecting on how far cinematic technology has advanced.
A reversal of views
Interestingly, Scott’s current embrace of AI marks a notable shift from his previous stance on the technology. In a past discussion, he expressed deep concerns about the potential dangers of AI, particularly in its unchecked development. “We have to lock down AI,” he stated emphatically.
“And I don’t know how you’re going to lock it down.” He even warned of AI’s capacity to disrupt global systems, likening it to a “technical hydrogen bomb.”
Despite these concerns, Scott acknowledges the role AI can play in modern filmmaking. While he remains skeptical of AI’s creative potential — particularly when it comes to generating art or performances that resonate with emotion and soul — he is clearly willing to harness its power to bring his cinematic visions to life.
The 86-year-old director’s evolving perspective on AI also touches on the broader industry debate, particularly in light of the actors’ and writers’ strikes last summer.
Scott expressed support for the creative community’s efforts to regulate the use of AI, especially in areas that could replace human creativity with machine-generated content. “There’s something noncreative about data,” Scott remarked, maintaining a cautious optimism about the future of AI in the arts.
Originally posted on OpenDataScience.com
Read more data science articles on OpenDataScience.com, including tutorials and guides from beginner to advanced levels! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here and receive the latest news every Thursday. You can also get data science training on-demand wherever you are with our Ai+ Training platform. Interested in attending an ODSC event? Learn more about our upcoming events here.
