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‘Iron Man’ Cinematographer Matthew Libatique Thinks AI Could Reshape Marvel’s VFX, but Not Its Actors

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Artificial intelligence has become one of the most divisive topics in Hollywood, and few corners of the industry are as exposed to the debate as big-budget superhero filmmaking. Matthew Libatique, the cinematographer behind ‘Iron Man’, has now weighed in on how the technology could change Marvel’s movies.

The 3-time Oscar nominee has had a long, varied career. Along with launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first film, he has shot ‘A Star Is Born’ and several films for his longtime collaborator Darren Aronofsky, including ‘Black Swan’ and ‘Noah’.

Speaking at Evolution Mallorca, the Spanish film festival where he received its Cinematography Icon Award, Libatique argued that costly visual effects make Marvel an obvious place for AI to take hold. “They make their movies for so much money; through visual effects, they are going to have to employ AI to curb some of their costs,” he told Variety.

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He went further, saying AI “won’t replace cinema” but that “what it could replace is Marvel.” Even so, he drew a firm line at the performers, saying he doesn’t think Marvel will ever use AI actors.

To make his point, he said he doesn’t see a “Tilly Norwood Batwoman or Black Widow” on the horizon. In his view, audiences still need real people behind the characters they connect with.

Libatique’s position is not that of a pure skeptic. He has already used machine learning in post-production to fix glare, which he sees as better than sending that work to underpaid labor overseas.

He also shot ‘Goodbye Lamby’, a short by Dustin Yellin made with AI. For that project, he had to physically light a space so the AI prompter could build a shortcut, which he found easier than relying on prompts alone.

Still, he urged caution about the bigger picture. “I would pump the brakes on the idea that it is going to replace us all,” he said, adding that he feels for post-production workers worried about losing their jobs.

His comments carry extra weight because of his partnership with Aronofsky. The director launched the AI studio Primordial Soup with Google DeepMind last year, and Libatique confirmed the pair have talked about the technology and are planning a test soon.

Even so, he said their next film will stay “human,” with Aronofsky directing on set. He described himself as curious about AI rather than sold on it. He also offered an unexpected comparison, calling Zack Snyder’s ‘300’ an early “AI movie” because it was built largely on green screens. By contrast, he named ‘Sentimental Value’ as the kind of film AI would never make.

Libatique was much harsher about AI being used to imitate artists. He called AI-generated copies of his own style “absolutely offensive,” and questioned who holds the taste when the work comes down to prompting.

He also criticized how uniform modern film lighting has become, joking that many movies look like “Temu David Fincher.” He added that he has yet to see AI work that impressed him.

Libatique’s view adds to a growing range of opinions in Hollywood. Travis Knight, CEO of stop-motion studio LAIKA, has taken a much harder stance, saying on ‘The Discourse’ podcast that the company will never use AI tools and calling the technology theft.

For Marvel fans, Libatique’s prediction raises big questions about how future blockbusters will be made. If he’s right, AI may change what happens behind the scenes, while the heroes on screen stay human.

What do you think about AI potentially reshaping Marvel's visual effects while keeping human actors?

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