Overview

• After 18 months of negotiations, Disney and Metaphysic abandoned plans to create a deepfake digital double of Dwayne Johnson for the live-action Moana remake.
• An AI-generated sidekick called “Bit” for Tron: Ares was also dropped due to concerns that it could trigger negative publicity.
• None of the AI-produced footage will appear in Moana when it is released in July 2026.
• Studio lawyers flagged legal ambiguities around who would own AI-generated elements and how to safeguard sensitive data.
• The moves underscore Disney’s cautious stance on generative AI following its lawsuit against Midjourney and earlier AI experiments like an AI-voiced Darth Vader in Fortnite.