Gal Gadot Says AI Was Key to New $70 Million Film ‘Bitcoin’

Gal Gadot is set to star alongside Casey Affleck in Doug Liman’s upcoming film Bitcoin, a $70 million biopic about the inventor of the cryptocurrency. The actress says she is wary of artificial intelligence but believes actors and filmmakers cannot afford to ignore the technology.

Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gadot said she is “afraid of AI” but is choosing to learn about it rather than “look away.”

“I’m trying to make the best of it and protect whatever I can protect,” Gadot said, emphasizing that AI was not used for her performance. According to the actress, the technology was used primarily for sets and lighting.

The film, written by Nick Schenk, was produced by Acme AI & FX and shot on a custom soundstage in just 20 days. Filmmakers involved in the project said the production could have cost around $300 million using traditional methods. AI-assisted production techniques reportedly brought the budget down to $70 million.

Gadot said she spent about six months with her lawyers negotiating protections around the use of AI, particularly to ensure that the technology could not be used to alter or replace her performance. She also said SAG representatives contacted her lawyers for guidance on strengthening protections for other actors.

The actress also addressed her departure from the role of Wonder Woman. Gadot said DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran had asked her to return for a third film, but she decided against it after seeing how other actors were treated.

She specifically cited Henry Cavill’s departure from the DC franchise, saying his situation “was not being handled elegantly, to say the least.”

Gadot’s next film, The Runner, is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on Sept. 2.