"Joe Russo on AI in 'The Electric State': Enhances Creativity"

There's no denying that the Russo Brothers' latest Netflix film, The Electric State, has been generating buzz since its debut on Friday. Amidst the current industry climate, fans have been particularly vocal about the film's use of AI, a topic that has stirred both curiosity and controversy.

Joe Russo, who, alongside his brother Anthony, directed blockbuster hits like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, has come to the defense of AI technology used in The Electric State. In an interview with The Times, Russo described the AI voice modulation as "something any 10-year-old could do after watching a TikTok video." He addressed the industry's apprehension, stating, "There’s a lot of finger-pointing and hyperbole because people are afraid. They don’t understand. But ultimately you’ll see AI used more significantly."

Russo further elaborated on the potential of AI, noting its current generative state. "Also, AI is in its generative state now, where it has, as we call them, hallucinations. You can’t do mission-critical work with something that hallucinates," he explained. "That is a reason self-driving cars haven’t taken over, or why AI surgery is not taking place worldwide. But in its generative state, AI is best suited towards creativity."

While some artists across various disciplines argue that AI is the antithesis of creativity, major studios appear eager to harness this technology when it matures. In July 2024, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos stated that audiences "don’t care" if AI is used in their film and television programming. Sarandos emphasized that the technology is "a great way for creators to tell better stories." He added, "Animation didn't get cheaper, it got better in the move from hand-drawn to CG animation, and more people work in animation today than ever in history. So I'm pretty sure there's a better business and a bigger business in making content 10% better than there is in making it 50% cheaper."

However, not everyone is jumping on the AI bandwagon. Last month, Marvel denied using AI to create teaser posters for their upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite the presence of a four-fingered hand in the imagery, which raised suspicions.

The Electric State was directed and produced by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a script by Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus. It was loosely adapted from Simon Stalenhag's 2018 illustrated novel and features a star-studded cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Woody Harrelson, Jason Alexander, Anthony Mackie, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito, Brian Cox, and Stanley Tucci.

IGN's review of The Electric State gave it a score of 4/10, describing it as "Marvel’s biggest hitmakers join forces again with the Netflix algorithm to deliver The Electric State, a $300-million anti-event movie."

Looking ahead, the Russo Brothers are set to direct the next two Avengers movies for Marvel Studios: Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.