“It’s Destroying Pure Cinema from Within”: Elizabeth Olsen Warns Fellow Actors to Protect Themselves from AI

Marvel actress Elizabeth Olsen, known worldwide for her portrayal of Wanda Maximoff — the powerful yet deeply human Scarlet Witch — has become the latest voice in Hollywood to issue a serious warning about the rise of artificial intelligence in filmmaking.

In a recent interview, Olsen shared her growing unease about how AI is being used to replicate performers’ likenesses and even generate performances, arguing that the technology risks hollowing out the emotional essence of cinema itself.

“It’s destroying pure cinema from within,” Olsen said candidly. “If we start replacing real emotion with algorithms, we lose the very thing that makes storytelling meaningful.”

“AI Can Mimic a Performance — But It Can’t Feel It”

Olsen, celebrated for her emotionally layered performances in WandaVision, Love and Death, and Martha Marcy May Marlene, explained that acting is not simply about appearance or sound — it’s about emotion, vulnerability, and empathy.

“AI can mimic a performance, but it can’t feel it,” she said. “The pauses, the trembling voice, the small imperfections — that’s where truth lives. That’s what audiences connect to.”

She described acting as a profoundly human exchange — one that relies on shared feeling and lived experience. “The power of film isn’t just in what we see,” she added. “It’s in what we feel — and no computer can feel for us.”

A Slippery Slope on Set

Olsen revealed that she’s already witnessed concerning trends within the industry, as studios increasingly turn to AI-driven tools for body scans, voice replication, and facial duplication. While she acknowledges that digital effects can enhance storytelling, she warned that the growing reliance on AI could cross a dangerous line.

“What happens when your face, your voice, your movement can be recreated without you?” she asked. “That’s not creativity — that’s exploitation. We have to draw a line before it’s too late.”

Her concerns mirror those of other prominent actors — including Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie — who have all cautioned against what they describe as the “dehumanization” of cinema through AI.

“Don’t Let Anyone Own Your Image or Your Soul”

Olsen’s message wasn’t just directed at established stars — she offered a heartfelt warning to young and aspiring performers as well.

“Young actors need to understand what they’re signing,” she said. “Don’t let anyone own your image or your soul. Because once a system has your likeness, you lose control — and control is everything when it comes to your art.”

The actress emphasized that the next generation of performers must prioritize consent, creative autonomy, and awareness in an era where digital replication is becoming easier than ever.

“This isn’t about being afraid of technology,” she clarified. “It’s about making sure it doesn’t erase the human being behind the performance.”

The Human Heart of Storytelling

Olsen spoke passionately about the relationship between actor and audience — a connection she fears AI could sever entirely.

“When people watch WandaVision or Love and Death, they connect with Wanda or Candy because they feel her pain, her confusion, her love,” she explained. “That’s human. If AI starts creating those performances, it’s no longer human — it’s hollow.”

For Olsen, the emotional imperfections that come with human acting — a shaky breath, an unplanned tear, a trembling word — are what make cinema resonate on a soul-deep level.

“The beauty of acting lies in imperfection,” she said. “That’s something no algorithm will ever understand.”

“Cinema Is Supposed to Make Us Feel Alive”

As Hollywood unions continue to advocate for AI protections in actor contracts, Olsen’s words arrive at a crucial moment in the ongoing debate over technology’s role in art.

“Cinema is supposed to make us feel alive,” she concluded. “The moment machines start telling those stories for us, we lose the heartbeat of art itself.”

A Voice for Authenticity

With her thoughtful perspective and quiet conviction, Elizabeth Olsen has joined a growing chorus of artists calling for the protection of creativity and authenticity in the digital age.

Her message is clear: technology may shape the tools of storytelling, but the soul of cinema — the laughter, the grief, the wonder — must always remain human.

“AI will never understand what it means to feel,” Olsen said softly. “That’s why we have to protect it — because feeling is what makes art, and art is what makes us.”