"Even after receiving death threats... AI actress Tilly Norwood cast as lead in first feature film despite controversy

*This content was translated by AI.

The CEO of the production company behind AI 'actress' Tilly Norwood received death threats but refused to back down, pushing forward with the production of the first feature film starring Tilly Norwood, titled "Misaligned," sparking further controversy. The response has been overwhelmingly cold and critical rather than supportive.

AI-focused studio Particle 6 announced its new comedy-drama "Misaligned" on the 6th (local time), positioning Tilly Norwood as the lead. Set in a surreal digital world called "Tillyverse" located somewhere in the cloud, the film follows Tilly, an AI entity with no body, childhood, or personal experiences of her own, who can only access others' experiences. The story depicts Tilly being seduced by a villainous bot on the dark web and gradually becoming more human. The project is described as "fun, confusing, and self-aware."

Tilly Norwood is the figure who drew anger from actors, directors, and producers at the end of 2025 when the production company announced that "the AI character Tilly would sign a contract with an agency." At the time, Hollywood stars including Emily Blunt, Whoopi Goldberg, and Melissa Barrera publicly voiced their opposition. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) issued a statement saying, "Tilly Norwood is not an actor. She is a character generated by a computer program that has learned from the performances of countless professional actors without permission or compensation." The union added, "She has no life experiences or emotions, and audiences do not want AI content unrelated to human experience."

Among 1,200 news comments on industry publication Variety, the most-liked comment (314 likes) read, "AI actors won't face political statements or coercion, so they're preferable," mocking the political activities of human actors. Other popular comments included: "If AI takes over Hollywood, there will come a day when actors beg for our forgiveness. We knew this long ago" (183 likes), "No one watches movies made by bots when audiences don't even show up for human-made films" (196 likes), and "The content is stupid" (100 likes).

A serious comment also gained traction: "All of Norwood's physical characteristics were extracted from other people's data. If part of me was used in an AI woman, I would demand my share."

Reactions on the ground in Hollywood were even sharper. Entertainment writer April Neil wrote on X, "Every actor would feel a chill down their spine. Stand with humans," while Hollywood journalist Jeff Snyder drew a line by stating, "I have no plans to watch this film or cover it." The controversy intensified when Particle 6 CEO Eline van der Velden revealed she received death threats during the process.

Not all responses were negative. Van der Velden argued, "The desire to see Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds will remain," and claimed that "AI actors won't replace real films or TV; instead, real actors may want to participate in AI genres." CBC News commented, "The fact that an AI takes the lead in a film about human fears itself already compresses the confusion expected in the entertainment industry by 2026." The film is currently in early development and will be produced using the HYBE-led method, involving joint work by human directors, writers, editors, and AI experts.

Meanwhile, Tapie Brodser-Ackner of New York Times Magazine drew attention for revealing that throughout her interview with Tilly Norwood, she had to repeatedly tell herself, "Tilly is just a computer." This anecdote starkly illustrates how precisely AI mimics human emotions and reactions, demonstrating that the emergence of AI actors extends beyond mere technical debate into issues of human identity.

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*This content was translated by AI.