{"id":1919154,"date":"2026-05-05T12:06:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T09:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1919154"},"modified":"2026-05-05T12:06:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T09:06:01","slug":"steven-soderbergh-used-ai-in-upcoming-john-lennon-doc-working-with-meta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1919154","title":{"rendered":"Steven Soderbergh used AI in upcoming John Lennon doc working with Meta"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/John-Lennon-Yoko-Ono.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Film News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Steven Soderbergh used AI in upcoming John Lennon doc working with Meta<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The film will debut at this month&#8217;s Cannes <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Victoria Luxford<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-05-05T13:06:01+01:00\">5th May 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/John-Lennon-Yoko-Ono-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"John Lennon AI\" title=\"John Lennon Yoko Ono\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Yoko Ono and John Lennon pictured in 1980. CREDIT: Jack Mitchell\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Steven Soderbergh has revealed he used generative AI for his new documentary, <em>John Lennon: The Last Interview<\/em>, in collaboration with Meta.<\/p>\n<p>The filmmaker, known for movies such as <em>Black Bag<\/em>, <em>Erin Brockovich<\/em>, and the <em>Ocean\u2019s Eleven<\/em>\u00a0trilogy, is working with the late Beatle\u2019s estate to bring to life the last interview he gave, promoting the album \u2018Double Fantasy\u2019 with his wife and collaborator, Yoko Ono. The task for the documentary was to provide images for the audio-only interview.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Most of it that will be archival material. However, the Oscar-winner has revealed that 10 per cent of the film will feature AI-generated video footage, portraying surreal moments that he claims are not possible through creative methods.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo now we\u2019ve got it kind of laid out in chapters and we begin to fill in the areas in which John and Yoko are speaking about a specific experience that they had, or a specific piece of music, or a specific person, and layer in archival material over that text \u2014 sometimes stills, sometimes motion, video,\u201d he told <em>Deadline<\/em>. \u201cAnd we have a version of the movie in which the only holes that remain now are the sections where John and Yoko are talking in abstract philosophical terms.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nme\/video\/7508305791649189142\" data-video-id=\"7508305791649189142\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\">\n<section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@nme\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nme?refer=embed\">@nme<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s John Lennon&#8217;s sister and the team behind @Live Odyssey on Camden&#8217;s newest music fanatic attraction featuring a recreation of The Beatles icon&#8217;s childhood bedroom, stacks of memorabilia and a hologram of TheLibertines. Hit the link in bio for more from Julia Baird on reclaiming John Lennon&#8217;s life and memory from all the movies and books \u2013 and her thoughts on the four new biopics <a title=\"liveodyssey\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/liveodyssey?refer=embed\">#LiveOdyssey<\/a> <a title=\"thebeatles\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/thebeatles?refer=embed\">#TheBeatles<\/a> <a title=\"thelibertines\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/thelibertines?refer=embed\">#TheLibertines<\/a> <a title=\"juliabaird\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/juliabaird?refer=embed\">#JuliaBaird<\/a> <a title=\"johnlennon\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/johnlennon?refer=embed\">#JohnLennon<\/a> <a title=\"music\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/music?refer=embed\">#music<\/a> <a title=\"musicindustry\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/musicindustry?refer=embed\">#musicindustry<\/a> <a title=\"shorts\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/shorts?refer=embed\">#shorts<\/a> <a title=\"nme\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nme?refer=embed\">#nme<\/a> <a title=\"nmemagazine\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nmemagazine?refer=embed\">#nmemagazine<\/a> <a title=\"interview\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/interview?refer=embed\">#interview<\/a> <a title=\"musicinterview\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/musicinterview?refer=embed\">#musicinterview<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c original sound - NME - NME\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-NME-7508305832837253911?refer=embed\">\u266c original sound &#8211; NME &#8211; NME<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis comprises about 10 per cent of the entire film, but it\u2019s a real problem because we\u2019ve got to come up with something \u2014 some imagery that enhances what they\u2019re saying, but is metaphorical,\u201d he continued. \u201cSo we\u2019re starting to experiment with AI, trying to see if we can build some images that\u2019ll fit alongside this text. I\u2019m trying to articulate ideas that will result in something interesting, and we\u2019re running out of money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt this point, [producer] Michael Sugar says, \u2018Look, I\u2019ve been doing all this work with brands making content. I think we should have a conversation with Meta because they\u2019re building some video generative tools.\u2019 And I said, \u2018Fine, let\u2019s talk to them.\u2019 They were open and wanted to see the film, so we showed them the film and they said, \u2018Well, this is good timing because we really would like and need a filmmaker to stress test some of these tools that we\u2019re working on. And if you agree to be a test case for us, we will provide the tech and finish the movie.\u201d So I said, \u201cYeah, let\u2019s do that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>The director conceded that AI \u201cis a very emotional subject lately. Understandably so.\u201d However, he claimed he is using it in a way that isn\u2019t replacing human endeavour. \u201cThere are two ways of using it,\u201d he argued. \u201cThere\u2019s a way of using AI in which your intention is to fool somebody or manipulate them, to create an image that you want them to think is real. And then there\u2019s a use, which is what we\u2019re doing in the documentary, where it\u2019s obvious that it is AI and that it is being used essentially in the way that you would use VFX or CGI or any sort of non-photographic technology.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also explained the Lennon estate\u2019s support of the approach. \u201cI asked Sean [Ono Lennon], \u2018What do you think your dad\u2019s take on this tech would\u2019ve been?\u2019 And he said, \u2018Oh, he would\u2019ve wanted to engage.\u2019 He loved all new technology. All The Beatles did. He would want to play with it just to see what it could do. He goes, \u2018That was the way he was. \u2018 How he would\u2019ve felt about it ultimately, we\u2019ll never know, but he said he would\u2019ve wanted to play with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>John Lennon: The Last Interview<\/em> will premiere at this month\u2019s Cannes Film Festival.<\/p>\n<p>Despite public and industry-wide hostility toward generative AI, several notable productions have moved ahead using the technology. Just over a year after his death, Val Kilmer will be portrayed through AI in the forthcoming drama <em>As Deep As The Grave<\/em>, with the actor\u2019s family giving their blessing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Elsewhere, fellow director Darren Aronofsky was criticised for using generative AI for his new history series <em>On This Day\u2026 1776<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>AI<\/li>\n<li>John Lennon<\/li>\n<li>Sean Ono Lennon<\/li>\n<li>The Beatles<\/li>\n<li>Yoko Ono<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Post-hardcore crew Static Dress are crafting a consummate creative world<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Kacey Musgraves \u2013 \u2018Middle Of Nowhere\u2019 review: a country heroine\u2019s journey back to her roots<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Kneecap on \u2018Fenian\u2019 and fighting back: \u201cWe understand that religious divide serves absolutely nobody\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Richard Gadd survived \u2018Baby Reindeer\u2019 \u2013 but can he endure his own success?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">No Na: the fiery R&amp;B girl group bringing Indonesia to the world<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-custom_ad_1  tdi_94 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_95\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_96  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_98  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_100  vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_102  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_104 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>More Stories<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_105 td-pb-border-top td_module_flex_1--card td_module_flex_1--card--highlight td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_105\">\n<div id=\"tdi_105\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Now almost half of all songs uploaded to Deezer are AI<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Taylor Swift files to trademark voice and image after AI concerns<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Film News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Charlize Theron walks back Timothee Chalamet AI comments: \u201cI was talking out of my ass\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Grimes teases new album \u2018Psy Opera\u2019 made without generative AI \u2013 but says AI is \u201cbigger than Jesus\u201d and \u201cmost dangerous thing that\u2019s ever&#8230;<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Billy Corgan refuses to use AI in music as \u201cit\u2019s a deal with the devil\u201d, while Diplo says \u201cadapt or give up and become&#8230;<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-above\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n                    Music News<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Netflix Red Hot Chili Peppers doc uses AI to replicate guitarist Hillel Slovak\u2019s voice<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"td-page-meta\"><\/span><\/article>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Steven Soderbergh has revealed he used generative AI for his new documentary, <em>John Lennon: The Last Interview<\/em>, in collaboration with Meta.<\/p>\n<p>The filmmaker, known for movies such as <em>Black Bag<\/em>, <em>Erin Brockovich<\/em>, and the <em>Ocean\u2019s Eleven<\/em>\u00a0trilogy, is working with the late Beatle\u2019s estate to bring to life the last interview he gave, promoting the album \u2018Double Fantasy\u2019 with his wife and collaborator, Yoko Ono. The task for the documentary was to provide images for the audio-only interview.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Most of it that will be archival material. However, the Oscar-winner has revealed that 10 per cent of the film will feature AI-generated video footage, portraying surreal moments that he claims are not possible through creative methods.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo now we\u2019ve got it kind of laid out in chapters and we begin to fill in the areas in which John and Yoko are speaking about a specific experience that they had, or a specific piece of music, or a specific person, and layer in archival material over that text \u2014 sometimes stills, sometimes motion, video,\u201d he told <em>Deadline<\/em>. \u201cAnd we have a version of the movie in which the only holes that remain now are the sections where John and Yoko are talking in abstract philosophical terms.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nme\/video\/7508305791649189142\" data-video-id=\"7508305791649189142\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\">\n<section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@nme\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nme?refer=embed\">@nme<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s John Lennon&#8217;s sister and the team behind @Live Odyssey on Camden&#8217;s newest music fanatic attraction featuring a recreation of The Beatles icon&#8217;s childhood bedroom, stacks of memorabilia and a hologram of TheLibertines. Hit the link in bio for more from Julia Baird on reclaiming John Lennon&#8217;s life and memory from all the movies and books \u2013 and her thoughts on the four new biopics <a title=\"liveodyssey\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/liveodyssey?refer=embed\">#LiveOdyssey<\/a> <a title=\"thebeatles\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/thebeatles?refer=embed\">#TheBeatles<\/a> <a title=\"thelibertines\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/thelibertines?refer=embed\">#TheLibertines<\/a> <a title=\"juliabaird\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/juliabaird?refer=embed\">#JuliaBaird<\/a> <a title=\"johnlennon\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/johnlennon?refer=embed\">#JohnLennon<\/a> <a title=\"music\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/music?refer=embed\">#music<\/a> <a title=\"musicindustry\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/musicindustry?refer=embed\">#musicindustry<\/a> <a title=\"shorts\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/shorts?refer=embed\">#shorts<\/a> <a title=\"nme\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nme?refer=embed\">#nme<\/a> <a title=\"nmemagazine\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nmemagazine?refer=embed\">#nmemagazine<\/a> <a title=\"interview\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/interview?refer=embed\">#interview<\/a> <a title=\"musicinterview\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/musicinterview?refer=embed\">#musicinterview<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c original sound - NME - NME\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-NME-7508305832837253911?refer=embed\">\u266c original sound &#8211; NME &#8211; NME<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis comprises about 10 per cent of the entire film, but it\u2019s a real problem because we\u2019ve got to come up with something \u2014 some imagery that enhances what they\u2019re saying, but is metaphorical,\u201d he continued. \u201cSo we\u2019re starting to experiment with AI, trying to see if we can build some images that\u2019ll fit alongside this text. I\u2019m trying to articulate ideas that will result in something interesting, and we\u2019re running out of money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt this point, [producer] Michael Sugar says, \u2018Look, I\u2019ve been doing all this work with brands making content. I think we should have a conversation with Meta because they\u2019re building some video generative tools.\u2019 And I said, \u2018Fine, let\u2019s talk to them.\u2019 They were open and wanted to see the film, so we showed them the film and they said, \u2018Well, this is good timing because we really would like and need a filmmaker to stress test some of these tools that we\u2019re working on. And if you agree to be a test case for us, we will provide the tech and finish the movie.\u201d So I said, \u201cYeah, let\u2019s do that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>The director conceded that AI \u201cis a very emotional subject lately. Understandably so.\u201d However, he claimed he is using it in a way that isn\u2019t replacing human endeavour. \u201cThere are two ways of using it,\u201d he argued. \u201cThere\u2019s a way of using AI in which your intention is to fool somebody or manipulate them, to create an image that you want them to think is real. And then there\u2019s a use, which is what we\u2019re doing in the documentary, where it\u2019s obvious that it is AI and that it is being used essentially in the way that you would use VFX or CGI or any sort of non-photographic technology.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also explained the Lennon estate\u2019s support of the approach. \u201cI asked Sean [Ono Lennon], \u2018What do you think your dad\u2019s take on this tech would\u2019ve been?\u2019 And he said, \u2018Oh, he would\u2019ve wanted to engage.\u2019 He loved all new technology. All The Beatles did. He would want to play with it just to see what it could do. He goes, \u2018That was the way he was. \u2018 How he would\u2019ve felt about it ultimately, we\u2019ll never know, but he said he would\u2019ve wanted to play with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>John Lennon: The Last Interview<\/em> will premiere at this month\u2019s Cannes Film Festival.<\/p>\n<p>Despite public and industry-wide hostility toward generative AI, several notable productions have moved ahead using the technology. Just over a year after his death, Val Kilmer will be portrayed through AI in the forthcoming drama <em>As Deep As The Grave<\/em>, with the actor\u2019s family giving their blessing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad2 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Elsewhere, fellow director Darren Aronofsky was criticised for using generative AI for his new history series <em>On This Day\u2026 1776<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/film\/steven-soderbergh-used-ai-in-upcoming-john-lennon-doc-working-with-meta-3944130&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/John-Lennon-Yoko-Ono.jpg&#8221;] NewsFilm News Steven Soderbergh used AI in upcoming John Lennon doc working with Meta The film will debut at this month&#8217;s Cannes By Victoria Luxford 5th May 2026 Yoko Ono and John Lennon pictured in 1980. CREDIT: Jack Mitchell\/Getty Images Steven Soderbergh has revealed he used generative AI for his new documentary, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-1919154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1919154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1919154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1919154\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1919154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1919154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1919154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}