The Sphere’s version of The Wizard of Oz has already drawn controversy over its use of AI. Now we know another unsettling element has been introduced into the Hollywood classic: a likeness of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO and president David Zaslav.
No, really: the exec, along with the Sphere’s executive chairman and CEO, James Dolan, will be superimposed on the faces of uncredited background characters in what are apparently blink-and-you’ll-miss-them appearances. The stunt is to celebrate the movie’s monumental screening series at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Dolan announced the surprise AI cameos at a special walkthrough of the experience. “I won’t tell you where, it’s only for like two seconds,” he disclosed, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “[They] replaced the faces of two very short, two-second characters in the movie with mine and [David’s]. I challenge you to find it.”
Now whether they’ll depict Munchkins or flying monkeys (or some other characters entirely) is something you’ll have to discover for yourself if you plan on seeing the MGM classic (now owned by Warner Bros.) in Las Vegas. The Sphere used AI to augment The Wizard of Oz to fit its unconventionally sized and shaped screen, hoping it will attract tourists despite the discourse surrounding the tech.
“I think [with] the controversy around AI replacing humans through technology, we ended up employing more artists on this project than I think Hollywood has employed in previous years, just to continue this journey,” shared the Sphere’s visual effects specialist Ben Grossmann in defense of its use to showcase the film to audiences in a new way.
Let us know what you think of The Wizard of Oz: The Zaslav Cut in the comments.
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