Full Breakdown
Gal Gadot Defends AI-Driven Production of “Bitcoin” While Guarding Her Performance
9/2/2026, 1:49:25 AM
Core Event: Actress Champions AI Sets and Lighting, Demands Legal Safeguards
Gal Gadot appeared on the *Happy Sad Confused* podcast to promote her upcoming Prime Video film “Bitcoin.” She argued that Hollywood must work with artificial-intelligence technology or risk being left behind, while insisting that AI was used only for the movie’s sets and lighting and not for altering her acting performance. “It was six months from my lawyers to go through every scenario we could think about as far as the AI component of it. I did not want AI to have anything to do with my performance. We had to protect that, to such an extent that SAG called my lawyers to ask for pointers to update the SAG contract to protect other actors. As far as the performances, it’s all me.” — Gal Gadot
Background & Context: AI’s Growing Role in Film Production
The $70 million biographical thriller, directed by Doug Liman and written by Nick Schenk, relies on generative AI to create visual environments that would traditionally require physical sets and extensive lighting rigs. Producer Ryan Kavanaugh says the AI-driven workflow allowed the film to be made for a fraction of the cost of a conventional production.
Data & Statistics
- Budget: $70 million (? £51.6 million).
- Claimed Savings: More than $200 million saved by substituting AI for traditional production design and lighting (attributed to Kavanaugh).
Official Statements & Responses
- Producer’s Claim: The AI approach reduced the projected $300 million budget to $70 million, saving over $200 million.
- Union Involvement: SAG-AFTRA contacted Gadot’s legal team for guidance on updating contracts to protect actors from AI-related performance alterations.
- Gadot’s Position: She emphasized that the AI component does not affect her acting: “As far as the performances, it’s all me.”
On-the-Ground Report: Stripped-Down Filming Experience
Gadot described shooting in a “barebones warehouse” where the cast performed without waiting for lighting changes. “As an actress, I wait so much. There’s the legendary quote: ‘You are being paid to wait as an actor.’ Here we would film nonstop because we didn’t have to wait for lighting,” she said. She added that the set felt “essentially … as if we were doing theater.”
Why It Matters: Potential Blueprint for Future Movies
If “Bitcoin” proves commercially viable, its AI-centric workflow could become a model for cost-controlled filmmaking, especially for mid-budget projects. The legal precedent set by Gadot’s six-month contract negotiations may also shape future SAG-AFTRA language regarding AI use on actors’ performances.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This was the longest contract I have ever worked on. It was six months for my lawyers to go through every scenario we could think about as far as the AI component of it,” — Gal Gadot
- “For me to go to do another Wonder Woman, I am not sure I would at this point in my life with four children and different schools and all of that,” — Gal Gadot
- “As far as the performances, it’s all me,” — Gal Gadot
- “Essentially the experience that I had was as if we were doing theater,” — Gal Gadot
What’s Next: Industry and Union Discussions
SAG-AFTRA is reviewing the legal framework for AI-related performance protections, using Gadot’s contract as a reference point. Producers and studios are monitoring the cost-saving claims associated with “Bitcoin” as they consider AI integration for upcoming projects. No further production milestones have been announced.
