Gal Gadot Defends AI Use in Upcoming Film ‘Bitcoin’ While Clarifying Her Future as Wonder Woman
Gal Gadot is navigating a pivotal chapter in her career, balancing high-stakes cinematic projects with the industry’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. As she prepares for the release of her upcoming feature The Runner and the buzz surrounding the project Bitcoin, the actress is addressing the controversy surrounding her involvement in the latter, specifically regarding its implementation of artificial intelligence.
Protecting Performance in the Age of AI
The announcement that Bitcoin would utilize AI technology sparked significant backlash among netizens concerned about the ethics of synthetic media in Hollywood. However, appearing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gadot sought to clarify the scope of the technology’s usage, emphasizing that it is strictly limited to technical production elements such as set design and lighting rather than human performance.
The actress revealed that the integration of AI necessitated a grueling six-month legal review of her contract. “This was the longest contract I have ever worked on,” Gadot explained. “It was six months for my lawyers to go through every scenario we could think about as far as the AI component of it. I did not want AI to have anything to do with my performance.”
In fact, the process was so rigorous that it caught the attention of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). “We had to protect that to such an extent that SAG called my lawyers to ask for pointers to update the SAG contract to protect other actors,” she noted. “As far as the performances, it’s all me.”
The film, which also features a star-studded cast including Casey Affleck, Pete Davidson, and Isla Fisher, represents a broader realization for Gadot regarding the changing nature of the film industry. “I am afraid of AI, but am I going to be afraid and look away? No,” she admitted. “I am playing with it and learning it and trying to educate myself. The train has left the station. You’re going to work with it or be out of the game completely.”
The Future of ‘Wonder Woman’
Beyond the technical challenges of her latest work, the podcast interview also provided clarity on one of the most frequently asked questions regarding her career: will she ever return to the DC Universe as Wonder Woman?
Gadot, who first debuted the Amazonian warrior in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, indicated that a return to the iconic role is unlikely. Citing the shifting priorities in her personal life, the mother of four noted that the intense time commitment required for such a massive production is no longer feasible.
“To check out from all of them for such a long period of time, it doesn’t work for my life anymore at this point,” she shared.
After appearing in four films as Diana Prince—including two standalone features—and making a brief cameo in 2023’s The Flash, Gadot appears ready to pivot toward new challenges, embracing the discomfort of innovation rather than revisiting the heroics of her past.
