The BrutalistDirector Says Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones' 'Performances Are Completely Their Own' After Facing AI Backlash

Mar. 15, 2025

Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones in ‘The Brutalist’.Photo:Lol Crawley

Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones

Lol Crawley

Adrien BrodyandFelicity Jones’ work inThe Brutalistis “completely their own,” the film’s director says, despite the use of artificial intelligence-driven technology on their performances.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the award contender’s director and co-writerBrady Corbetdefended the decision to modify Brody and Jones’ Hungarian language dialogue “specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy… The aim was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicity’s performances in another language, not to replace or alter them and done with the utmost respect for the craft.”

Brady Corbet on Jan. 17.Carlos Alvarez/Getty

Director Brady Corbet attends ‘The Brutalist’ photocall at the Rosewood Villamagna Hotel on January 17, 2025 in Madrid, Spain

Carlos Alvarez/Getty

Jancsó, 42, a native Hungarian speaker, said in his RedShark News interview that “most” of Brody and Jones’ “Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there.” Utilizing Respeecher was a means of speeding up the post-production process, he added.

“It is controversial in the industry to talk about AI, but it shouldn’t be,” Jancsó said. “We should be having a very open discussion about what tools AI can provide us with. There’s nothing in the film using AI that hasn’t been done before. It just makes the process a lot faster.”

The Ukraine-based company Respeecher also used the AI-driven technology for Disney+ to recapture the lateJames Earl Jones' voice on the seriesObi-Wan Kenobiand a youngMark Hamill’s voiceinThe MandalorianandThe Book of Boba Fett.

(Left-right:) Stacy Martin, Brady Corbet, Felicity Jones, Adrien Brody, Mona Fastvold, Raffey Cassidy and Guy Pearce on Jan. 15.Ian West/PA Images via Getty

Stacy Martin, Brady Corbet, Felicity Jones, Adrien Brody, Mona Fastvold, Raffey Cassidy and Guy Pearce attending the special screening of The Brutalist, at Picturehouse Central Cinema, London. Picture date: Wednesday January 15, 2025

Ian West/PA Images via Getty

AI technology is becoming a common practice in post-production process, perThe Guardian. It was also used to increase the vocal range ofEmilia Pérezstar Karla Sofía Gascón. The award-winning Jacques Audiard movie’s re-recording mixer Cyril Holtz said in aninterviewat the 2024 Cannes Film Festival that the actress’ singing was blended with composer Camille’s.

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The BrutalistandEmilia Pérezwere among the winners at this year’sGolden Globe Awardson Jan. 3, and are in contention at the upcomingScreen Actors Guild AwardsandCritics Choice Awards.

source: people.com