Boots Riley Blasts 83-Year-Old Scorsese's Black Forest AI Role as Hollywood Fights GenAI
Updated
Updated · Deadline · Jun 4
Boots Riley Blasts 83-Year-Old Scorsese's Black Forest AI Role as Hollywood Fights GenAI
3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jun 4
Summary
Boots Riley attacked Martin Scorsese’s new advisory role at Black Forest Labs, accusing the director of using his stature to push generative AI into filmmaking and suggesting the move was financially motivated.
Tuesday’s announcement put Scorsese at the AI startup to help shape its “visual intelligence,” with the director saying the tools can speed pre-production, clarify storyboards and cut time costs without sacrificing craft.
Riley argued those claims are unnecessary, posting rough storyboards from I Love Boosters to show films can be planned without AI and saying the issue is Scorsese promoting the technology, not merely using it privately.
The clash lands as AI remains a flashpoint in Hollywood, with SAG-AFTRA backing the Trump administration’s AI framework and Trump signing an order requiring companies to give the government 30-day pre-release access to new models.
Is Scorsese's AI adoption a visionary step for cinema or a threat to authentic human creativity?
Can new laws balance AI innovation with protecting creators, or is a clash over copyright inevitable?
With AI learning from countless artists, what system can ensure they are fairly paid for their work?
Scorsese, AI, and the 2026 Hollywood Schism: Innovation, Backlash, and the Future of Filmmaking Jobs
Overview
In June 2026, legendary director Martin Scorsese made headlines by formally endorsing and actively using generative AI technology in filmmaking. He partnered with Black Forest Labs and used their FLUX AI tool to create visual concepts for his new film, showing how AI can help in pre-production and creative visualization. Scorsese explained that embracing AI is a natural step in his ongoing search for innovative storytelling tools, aiming to push creativity and deliver richer experiences for audiences. His move sparked industry-wide debate, highlighting both the promise and controversy of AI in the creative process.