Viral AI video of Brad Pitt fighting Tom Cruise shakes Hollywood - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

by Cerys Davies

February 13, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A viral AI-generated video featuring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise fighting atop a building has sparked widespread outrage in the entertainment industry. Created using Seedance 2.0, an AI video-generation platform developed by ByteDance (the parent company of TikTok), the 15-second clip was shared on X by Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson. The video quickly gained attention for its professionally produced quality and unauthorized use of the actors' likenesses. Industry leaders, including the Motion Picture Assn. (MPA) and SAG-AFTRA, have condemned the video as a blatant infringement of copyright law. Charles Rivkin, CEO of the MPA, criticized ByteDance for launching a service without proper safeguards against piracy, warning that such actions undermine the livelihoods of millions of American workers in creative fields. The video’s unauthorized use of copyrighted material has raised serious concerns about the ethical and legal implications of AI-generated content. The reaction to the video highlights broader fears within the entertainment industry about the potential impact of AI on jobs and creative integrity. Rhett Reese, a writer-producer known for films like *Deadpool* and *Zombieland*, expressed his concerns on X, suggesting that AI tools could soon make it possible to create movies indistinguishable from those produced by Hollywood studios. His fears reflect a growing anxiety among creatives about the future of their industry in an era of advancing AI technology. SAG-AFTRA has made protecting human talent from AI-generated content a top priority during recent contract negotiations with studios. The union is advocating for measures like the proposed “Tilly tax,” which would require studios to pay fees when using AI-generated actors, such as Tilly Norwood, in their productions. These efforts aim to address the ethical and economic challenges posed by AI while safeguarding the rights of human performers. The viral video serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for responsible AI development and the importance of protecting intellectual property. As AI tools become more advanced, the entertainment industry must navigate these challenges to ensure that innovation doesn’t come at the expense of creative professionals or artistic integrity.

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Originally published on Los Angeles Times on 2/13/2026