ByteDance's Seedance 2 Criticized Over AI-Generated Video of Tom Cruise Fighting Brad Pitt

The AI-generated video has sparked outrage from the film industry over copyright and consent issues.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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ByteDance's new AI video generation tool Seedance 2.0 has generated a 15-second video depicting Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt, which has garnered over 1.5 million views. However, the film industry has condemned the video, with the Motion Picture Association CEO calling it "unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale" and the SAG-AFTRA actors' union calling it "unacceptable and undercuts the ability of human talent to earn a livelihood."

Why it matters

The controversy highlights the growing concerns around the use of AI technology to generate content that infringes on copyrights and the rights of creators. As AI tools become more advanced, there are fears that they could disrupt and potentially decimate the film industry by allowing anyone to create professional-looking content without the consent or involvement of the original creators.

The details

The 15-second video was posted on X by Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson, who said it was generated from a two-line prompt he put into Seedance 2.0. The video's high quality has sparked concerns from industry figures like writer-producer Rhett Reese, who fears that soon anyone will be able to create movies "indistinguishable from what Hollywood now releases" using powerful AI tools, potentially costing him and others their jobs.

  • The video was posted on X on February 14, 2026.

The players

ByteDance

A Chinese technology company that developed the AI video generation tool Seedance 2.0.

Charles Rivkin

Chief executive of the Motion Picture Association, who condemned ByteDance's actions as "unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale."

Rhett Reese

Writer-producer of movies such as the "Deadpool" trilogy and "Zombieland", who expressed fear that AI tools like Seedance 2.0 could disrupt and decimate the film industry.

SAG-AFTRA

The screen/TV actors union, which condemned Seedance 2.0 for the "unauthorized use of our members' voices and likenesses" and said it "disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent."

Ruairi Robinson

An Irish filmmaker who posted the 15-second AI-generated video of Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt on X.

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What they’re saying

“In a single day, the Chinese AI service Seedance 2.0 has engaged in unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale. By launching a service that operates without meaningful safeguards against infringement, ByteDance is disregarding well-established copyright law that protects the rights of creators and underpins millions of American jobs.”

— Charles Rivkin, Chief executive of the Motion Picture Association (Los Angeles Times)

“I hate to say it. It's likely over for us. Soon people will be able to sit at a computer and create a movie indistinguishable from what Hollywood now releases. I was blown away by the Pitt v Cruise video because it is so professional. That's exactly why I'm scared. My glass half empty view is that Hollywood is about to be revolutionized/decimated....”

— Rhett Reese, Writer-producer (X)

“Seedance 2.0 disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent. Responsible A.I. development demands responsibility, and that is nonexistent here.”

— SAG-AFTRA spokesperson (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The Motion Picture Association and SAG-AFTRA have indicated they will take legal action against ByteDance to stop the unauthorized use of copyrighted works and likenesses on Seedance 2.0.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the growing tension between the rapid advancement of AI technology and the need to protect the rights and livelihoods of creators in the film industry. As AI tools become more sophisticated, finding the right balance between innovation and safeguarding intellectual property will be a critical challenge for policymakers and industry stakeholders.