Tom Holland Warns: “AI Is Destroying Pure Cinema from Within”

Tom Holland, the British actor best known for his portrayal of Spider-Man, has issued a heartfelt warning to his peers in Hollywood — urging them to protect their artistic integrity as artificial intelligence continues to infiltrate the film industry. In a recent interview, Holland expressed his deep unease over the rapid rise of AI-generated performances, calling the technology “a threat to the soul of storytelling.”

“It’s destroying pure cinema from within,” Holland said. “AI can copy your face, your voice, your movements — but it can’t copy your soul. And that’s what acting is all about.”

“AI Doesn’t Understand Connection”

Holland, whose performances in Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Impossible, and Cherry have been celebrated for their honesty and emotion, said his fears go beyond job security. For him, the danger lies in the erosion of authenticity — the small, imperfect human moments that define great performances.

“What makes a performance special is the humanity behind it — the mistakes, the hesitations, the chemistry with other actors,” he explained. “AI doesn’t understand connection. It just mimics it.”

He recalled moments on the set of Spider-Man: No Way Home when he first began to see how digital tools could cross ethical lines. As technology advances, he said, it’s becoming alarmingly easy for studios to replicate actors’ likenesses without consent.

“We’ve already seen examples of actors being recreated digitally,” Holland warned. “That’s not innovation — that’s exploitation.”

A Call for Protection and Awareness

Holland urged fellow actors, particularly younger ones, to take steps to protect their digital identities. He emphasized the need for clear contractual terms and legal safeguards to prevent studios or software companies from using an actor’s image or voice without explicit permission.

“Every actor should make sure their image and voice are legally protected,” he said. “Because once it’s out there, once an AI model has you, you don’t get to choose what story it tells anymore.”

His comments reflect a growing movement within Hollywood to address the ethical and creative implications of artificial intelligence. During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, AI protections became a central issue, with performers demanding strict limitations on the technology’s use in filmmaking.

The Human Cost of Perfection

For Holland, who has built a reputation on emotionally grounded performances, the concern is as much philosophical as it is professional. He believes that cinema’s magic lies in imperfection — the fragile, fleeting moments of truth that only human beings can create.

“Acting isn’t about perfection,” he said. “It’s about feeling something real — and letting others feel it too. If we hand that over to machines, we’re not just losing jobs. We’re losing art.”

Preserving the Soul of Cinema

Holland joins a growing list of stars — including Ryan Reynolds, Keanu Reeves, and Emma Thompson — who have spoken out about the dangers of AI in creative industries. Their message is united: while technology can enhance filmmaking, it must never replace the human heart at its core.

As Holland put it, the responsibility now lies with the artists themselves to draw the line.

“Cinema was built on people — their faces, their stories, their emotions,” he said. “We can use technology to tell those stories better, but if we let it tell them for us, then cinema stops being human.”

Tom Holland’s words serve as both a warning and a rallying cry — a reminder that as the film industry races toward an AI-driven future, the preservation of humanity in storytelling may be its greatest challenge yet.