Three-time Oscar-nominee cinematographer Matthew Libatique, speaking at Evolution Mallorca where he received the Cinematography Icon Award, said AI could replace Marvel's visual-effects work but will never be used to create AI actors.
Libatique, who collaborates regularly with director Darren Aronofsky, explained that the pair are currently testing AI ahead of their next film. He told Variety that they have discussed the technology and plan a trial soon, noting, "I have a belief that the more you give to the system, the more it's gonna have what you're looking for. He wants to see how little you can do; we both want to learn more about it."
The "Iron Man" DP added that AI will not replace cinema itself, but could cut costs for studios like Marvel and DC that produce large-budget blockbusters. He said, "They make their movies for so much money, I can understand why, through visual effects, they are going to have to employ AI to curb some of their costs," while stressing that Marvel will never employ AI actors.
He argued that actors such as Chris Evans or Robert Downey Jr. bring personality that AI cannot replicate, saying, "I don't think there's going to be a Tilly Norwood Batwoman or Black Widow. You can't tell me you're going to make an AI character that can do what Robert Pattinson does. You can't."
Libatique cited Zach Snyder's 2006 film "300" as an early example of an AI-like production, noting its heavy reliance on green-screen and digital landscapes. He warned that such approaches limit audience reach, being "limited by age, gender, and also by social interaction."
He emphasized that AI will not replace human storytelling, stating, "Nobody's going to make 'Sentimental Value' with AI," and urged caution against assuming AI will supplant cinema.
Regarding his work with Aronofsky, Libatique said the upcoming project will stay "human," with Aronofsky still directing on set while exploring AI tools. He described their plan as using the camera as usual and then seeing what AI can add.
Libatique admitted to using AI in post-production for tasks like glare correction, finding it helpful compared with outsourcing cheap labor. However, he expressed sympathy for post-production workers whose jobs may be displaced, calling the shift "insensitive" and questioning when AI will truly replace people.
He recounted a recent AI-driven short film, "Goodbye Lamby," where AI was used to imagine a world inside a sculpture, noting the need for physical lighting cues to guide the AI prompts.
Libatique also raised concerns about AI copying his style, recalling two instances where AI generated videos were instructed to mimic his work, which he found offensive. He stressed that his approach is story-driven, not style-driven, and warned that AI's homogenising effect makes lighting look alike across films.
Ultimately, Libatique believes the human element, taste, prompting, and creative decisions, remains essential, and he has yet to see AI produce anything that truly impresses him.
