Gal Gadot defends AI movie Bitcoin two years after warning it could ‘get out of hand’

Gal Gadot has joined the growing list of creatives who are saying “If you can’t beat them, join them” to AI, as the Wonder Woman star has defended its use in her new movie Bitcoin. 

The former DC actress – who has become more known for her *ahem* interesting line delivery in recent years (“Kal-El, no”) – is starring alongside Casey Affleck, Pete Davidson and Isla Fisher in Doug Liman’s upcoming biographical thriller film about bitcoin cryptocurrency and its developer Satoshi Nakamoto.

Earlier this year, the project came under fire when it was revealed its sets will be made entirely of AI-generated backgrounds instead of real world locations. The technology will also be used to adjust actors’ performances in place of reshoots if required, as well as lighting. 

According to producer Ryan Kavanaugh, the $70 million production has saved more than $200 million by using AI for these functions. 

But it’s also reignited the ongoing debate about whether generative AI has any place in creative fields. 

Gal Gadot is facing backlash for her stance on AI

Gadot herself appeared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast this week, where she defended her role in Bitcoin, saying she didn’t want AI to have anything to do with her performance. 

“This was the longest contract I have ever worked on. I think it was six months from my lawyers to go through every scenario we could think about as far as the AI component of it,” she told host Josh Horowitz.

“I absolutely did not want AI to have anything to do with my performance. We had to protect that, by the way to an extent that SAG had called my lawyers to ask for pointers to update the SAG contract to protect other actors, knowing what we’ve been through.  

“As far as the performances, for me, it’s all me.” 

Gadot went on to clarify, “I’m afraid of AI, but I am going to be afraid and look away? No. I’m afraid and I am playing with it and learning it and trying to educate myself with it because I think that the train has left the station. 

“It’s one of those things. It’s either you’re going to [work with it] or be out of the game completely. So I’m trying to make the best of it and protect whatever I can protect.”

The actress further explained that the AI component in Bitcoin was for sets and for lighting, adding, “We still had a very broad crew and a lot of people working on this film.”

She likened the experience to doing theatre, as “everything was stripped down and all that was left was the performance.”

Gal Gadot "I did not want AI to have anything to do with my performance"
But what about the people who worked on sets and lighting?
Gal Gadot: https://t.co/L3ydvFyY6b pic.twitter.com/ZmhE3fkUXL

— Aieldream (@aieldream) September 1, 2026

“It felt like a pure art form of creating a movie… Here, we would film non-stop because we didn’t have to wait for lighting. We would film on and on and on for 10 hours. That was amazing,” she continued. 

Despite her defence of the tech, it’s safe to say her participation in the film hasn’t gone down well. As one X user wrote in response to her comments, “‘AI is coming for my job, so I’m starting in the Bitcoin movie with AI everywhere’ girl you’re rich, ‘no’ was an option.”

“Queen of always being on the wrong side of history,” quipped another, while a third added, “Nobody in Hollywood is protecting the crew when the train leaves the station, they’re just protecting their own bag and calling it artistry.”

A fourth chimed in, “I just hope ‘adapt or be left behind’ doesn’t become an excuse to take the human element out of everything.”

Gadot once warned about the dangers of AI

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Gadot has spoken about AI. In an interview with Gentlemen’s Watch in 2024, she was asked about her views on it. 

“It is something that has become part of our lives. What is there now will not be reversed. Artificial intelligence (AI) in our lives will increase exponentially,” she said. 

“Look at how dependent we have become on our smartphones. Who could have ever imagined that 10 or 12 years ago? I do think we need to keep an eye on the dangers of AI. Be it future weapons or fake news. 

“I am no tech guru, but I regularly wonder about the risk if this development gets out of hand. Conceptually and philosophically, I find that immensely interesting.”

So, while Gadot might have warned about the dangers of AI two years ago, her stance that there’s no turning back certainly hasn’t changed. 

The difference now is that she’s starring in a film putting that belief into practice, while making sure her own performance remains firmly protected from it.

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Featured image credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock