Soderbergh Plans AI-Powered Spanish-American War Film

Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh is set to embark on a new cinematic venture, a film centered around the Spanish-American War. The acclaimed director plans to leverage artificial intelligence significantly in bringing this historical narrative to life. Wagner Moura has been confirmed to star in the project, which Soderbergh describes as a compelling and timely story that has yet to be fully explored on screen.

Soderbergh is currently in the process of finalizing his John Lennon and Yoko Ono documentary, a project where he has already experimented with AI. He found the technology particularly useful for creating surreal, dream-like visual elements that enhance the philosophical aspects of the documentary. He noted that the AI-generated images, which constitute about 10 minutes of the 90-minute film, require close human oversight.

Acquiring the necessary cast members is a crucial next step for the Spanish-American War film. Soderbergh mentioned that two studios are currently interested, but the green light depends on securing the right talent and managing the budget. He believes that a strong cast will create a sense of urgency for audiences, encouraging them to see the film in theaters rather than waiting for its streaming release, highlighting the current unique landscape of filmmaking.