‘My Job Is To Deliver a Good Movie, Period’: Steven Soderbergh Defends AI Use
Steven Soderbergh addressed the growing backlash over his controversial filmmaking choices during a recent press tour. The Oscar-winning director explained why he remains unfazed by the criticism and doubled down on his approach to new technology in cinema.
Steven Soderbergh addresses use of AI for new doc amid criticism
Steven Soderbergh defended his use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking during a recent interview with Variety. The director addressed the backlash surrounding his AI comments while promoting his new film The Christophers. He said, “I’m just not threatened by it. I’m only scared of things I don’t understand.”
Soderbergh explained that AI proved useful for his upcoming Cannes documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview. He used the technology to create surrealistic imagery that traditional filming could not achieve. He said, “It allowed me to solve a creative problem about how to visualize what John and Yoko are speaking about philosophically.”
The director acknowledged the wave of criticism his comments generated on social media. He recalled learning about the backlash from concerned colleagues. He said, “I found out from people looking at me like they’d seen my chest X-ray.”
Soderbergh first revealed his AI plans in an interview with Filmmaker Magazine earlier in April 2026. He disclosed that an upcoming film about the Spanish-American War will feature significant AI-generated imagery. He cited budget constraints as a key reason for adopting the technology on that project.
Despite the controversy, Soderbergh maintained a pragmatic stance on AI’s role in filmmaking. He noted that the technology eliminated the need for expensive visual effects houses on certain sequences. He added, “I don’t think it’s the solution to everything, and I don’t think it’s the death of everything.” His The Christophers collaborator Ed Solomon offered a different perspective on AI as a creative tool. Solomon said, “I’m not interested in using it as a writing tool because it takes away from what I love about what I do, which is the process.”
Source: Comingsoon.net