James Cameron has told audiences that no generative AI was used in the making of the upcoming special effects-heavy sci-fi action film, Avatar: Fire and Ash.

The Oscar-winning writer and director told ComicBook.com that he has banned generative AI from being used for all Avatar films, insisting he would never “replace actors.”

“I’m not negative about generative AI,” Cameron began. “I just wanted to point out we don’t use it on the Avatar films. We honor and celebrate actors. We don’t replace actors. That’s going to find its level. I think Hollywood will be self-policing on that. We’ll find our way through that. But we can only find our way through it as artists if we exist. So it’s the existential threat from big AI that worries me more than all that stuff.”

Cameron has talked about generative AI multiple times in the past, but now he’s out promoting Avatar: Fire and Ash’s release later this month, he’s being asked about the tech and its impact on filmmaking more and more.

Earlier this week, Cameron issued strong words on the potential for entire characters to be created with generative AI, saying it’s “horrifying to me.” Speaking to CBS News, Cameron described the process of turning real-life actors into digital characters for the Avatar films, citing performance capture as a crucial component.

"For years, there was this sense that, 'Oh, they're doing something strange with computers and they're replacing actors,' when in fact, once you really drill down and you see what we're doing, it's a celebration of the actor-director moment," he said.

"Now, go to the other end of the spectrum, and you've got generative AI, where they can make up a character," he continued. "They can make up an actor. They can make up a performance from scratch with a text prompt. It's like, no. That's horrifying to me. That's the opposite. That's exactly what we're not doing."

Cameron’s comments come as filmmakers and studios grapple with the future of AI performances, with AI-generated “actress” Tilly Norwood recently sparking the ire of SAG-AFTRA. Speaking to Broadcast International in July, creator Eline Van der Velden said she wanted Tilly Norwood “to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman.”

But it's the threat of "big AI" that worries Cameron more. Earlier this year, the Terminator and Titanic director spoke about the dangers of artificial intelligence, particularly as it relates to weapons systems and getting into what he calls a “nuclear arms race” with AI.

Cameron’s thoughts on the cost of making Avatar movies flared up again last week, when he said that if Avatar: Fire and Ash doesn’t make enough money to justify Avatar 4 and 5, he’s ready to walk away from the franchise.

The special effects-heavy Avatar films cost a huge amount of money to produce, but they have historically made billions of dollars at the box office. Avatar: Fire and Ash, due out in December, is expected to follow suit — and the pressure is on it to deliver for Disney so director James Cameron can realize his vision and release Avatar 4 and 5 over the next six years.

Avatar 4 is down for release on December 21, 2029, with Avatar 5 due out December 19, 2031. Cameron, now 71, would be close to 80 years old by the time it all wraps up.

Avatar remains the highest-grossing movie of all time (not adjusted for inflation), and has earned a staggering $2.9 billion across several theatrical runs. (Avengers: Endgame overtook Avatar for a brief period, before Avatar then stole its crown back via a fresh re-release.) 2022 sequel Avatar: The Way of Water earned $2.3 billion, meanwhile, cementing it as the third-highest grossing film of all time — just ahead of Cameron's own Titanic, which floats on $2.2 billion.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].