New AI Video Generator Sparks Major Hollywood Backlash

Hollywood Reporter

by Katie Kilkenny

February 13, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, has launched Seedance 2.0, an AI-powered video creation model that has sparked significant backlash in Hollywood. The platform allows users to generate videos featuring Hollywood stars and intellectual property, leading to unauthorized uses such as clips of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt engaging in combat or alternate endings to popular shows like *Game of Thrones*. This has raised alarms among major studios, talent agencies, and labor unions, including SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors like Cruise and Pitt. The backlash mirrors the response to OpenAI’s Sora 2, another AI model that faced criticism for similar practices. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and SAG-AFTRA have condemned Seedance 2.0 for disregarding copyright laws and exploiting creators’ work without permission. Charles Rivkin, CEO of MPA, accused ByteDance of engaging in “massive-scale unauthorized use” of U.S.-copyrighted material, threatening millions of American jobs tied to the entertainment industry. SAG-AFTRA added that Seedance 2.0 violates ethical standards by using likenesses and voices of its members without consent, undermining their ability to earn a livelihood. The Human Artistry Campaign, which includes groups like the Recording Industry Association of America and the NHL Players’ Association, labeled Seedance 2.0 an “attack on every creator around the world.” The coalition argued that the AI tool’s alleged theft of human creators’ work is destructive to culture and violates personal autonomy. Copyright Alliance also joined the criticism, urging ByteDance to halt its infringing activities. This controversy highlights a broader issue in the entertainment industry: the ethical and legal challenges posed by AI tools that replicate or alter creative content. The backlash against Seedance 2.0 underscores Hollywood’s growing concern over AI models that exploit intellectual property without proper licensing or consent, potentially eroding the value of human creativity and innovation. For readers interested in entertainment, this matters because it raises questions about how AI will shape the future of media and creators’ rights. The industry is at a crossroads, balancing technological advancements with the need

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Originally published on Hollywood Reporter on 2/13/2026