AI Film Project Licenses Celebrity Images for First Time

AI startup Higgsfield is pushing boundaries with its upcoming production, "Cully Hill Boys." This 110-minute film is notable for featuring characters modeled after streamer N3on, UFC fighter Israel Adesanya, and other public figures, utilizing legally licensed celebrity likenesses. It aims to be the first AI-generated production of its kind.

The movie serves as a demonstration of Higgsfield's Cinema Studio platform, a tool the company hopes Hollywood studios will adopt for exploring AI's potential. While not intended for public release, the project tests a framework for compensating public figures whose images and scripts are adapted using generative AI.

Screenwriter Tim Planagan, whose East London-based mobster story is featured, expressed enthusiasm for seeing his script produced, even with AI. He secured an agreement with Higgsfield comparable to WGA rates for AI adaptations, indicating his willingness for future AI-driven projects.

Streamer N3on, also known as Mikyle Rafiq, highlighted the ease of participation, requiring minimal effort for a "pretty good check." He sees AI adaptation as a realistic way to engage in film without the demanding schedule of traditional acting, aligning with his interest in technology and his audience's engagement with AI-generated content.