13/07/2026

LYFE MONDAY | JULY 13, 2026

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Virtual actress Tilly Norwood to star in first feature film

“The filmmakers who thrive in the next decade will be the ones who bring decades of storytelling instinct to these new tools and Misaligned is where we put that to work at feature scale,” said Particle 6 CEO and founder Eline van der Velden. A Particle 6 spokesperson told AFP it was too early to discuss distribution – cinemas or streaming – or a release date. Hollywood’s unions and leading actors, including Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett and others, have called for limits on the use of AI and its generative tools on copyrighted artistic work without express permission.

Her creators, studio Particle 6, said recently they will create a feature film for her to star in, a film that will be produced entirely using artificial intelligence (AI) – with a hand from human writers, human technicians and human actors. The movie title Misaligned refers to the notion of the struggle to make AI align with human values and goals. “AI can support premium narrative filmmaking, but only with substantial amounts of human craft, skill, judgement and time. That’s not a limitation of the technology. That’s the point.

V IRTUAL actress Tilly Norwood, who has not been cast in a film since her career was launched in autumn 2025, may finally be getting her breakthrough role – despite Hollywood’s disdain. o Creators claim filmmakers using tech tools will ‘thrive’ in future

Cinemas emerge as allies for streamers such as Apple TECH giant Apple views movie cinemas as allies in its fight to carve out a space for its platform in the competitive streaming sector, a top company executive told AFP. The firm, which launched Apple TV+ in 2019 without any third party content, has won over critics in recent years and is so far the only streaming platform to win the best picture Oscar, with Coda in 2022. It also shook up the box office with F1: The Movie , a motor racing drama starring Brad Pitt, which grossed US$634.1 million (RM2.6 billion) worldwide and earned the company another Academy Award this year. After years of wariness between movie cinemas and streaming services, Eddy Cue, the company’s senior services and health vice president, said Apple is committed to producing films for both platforms, allowing them to play out their theatrical runs based on audience demand instead of release windows. “If a movie such as F1 was on theatrical longer than 45 days (it was) because people wanted to watch it theatrically, they wanted to watch it in an Imax cinema. Theatrical is a great experience, it’s here to stay and I think it’s growing,” he said. While viewers might initially want to see a blockbuster on a big screen, they love the chance to rewatch it when it turns up on the streaming service, now rebranded as Apple TV. Cinema and streaming are “very complementary. I think they can both work together,” Cue said. The California-based company is gearing up to produce an F1 sequel, said Cue. It “was the biggest sports movie of all time. It was Brad Pitt’s biggest movie of all time and I do think that people want to see another one,” he said. Cue, who has been credited with revolutionising Apple’s services sector, was recognised recently as the Entertainment Person of the Year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. F1: The Movie is among Apple TV+’s biggest successes, earning around RM2.6 billion. – IMDBPIC

Norwood and other AI projects in the entertainment industry have been subject to disdain from many quarters. – IMDBPIC

Netflix revives Gene Wilder’s voice with AI for new Willy Wonka reality series, with wife’s blessing

NETFLIX has partnered with artificial intelligence (AI) firm ElevenLabs to recreate late actor Gene Wilder’s voice for the reality competition series Wonka’s The Golden Ticket , the streamer said recently. ElevenLabs specialises in AI generated, human-like speech and voice cloning technology. Wilder, who played the title character in the original 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film, died in 2016 at the age of 83. “More than five decades after Wilder brought Willy Wonka to life, people of all ages and backgrounds

world of Wonka. Only one contestant will ultimately win the grand prize, Reuters reported. The distinctive whimsy of

The series stems from a collaboration with the Roald Dahl Story Company, named after the British author of 1964’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory novel. Netflix acquired the company in 2021. Wonka’s The Golden Ticket is also being produced in partnership with the Gene Wilder Estate and will feature Wilder’s co-star Rusty Goffe, returning as an Oompa Loompa. The show follows 12 lucky golden ticket winners, each accompanied by a partner of their choosing, as they navigate a series of games, tests and temptations within the colourful

around the world continue to find joy, laughter and inspiration in his performance. “Wilder had a remarkable ability to bring humour, wonder and heart into people’s lives, and that connection has endured for generations,” said Karen, Wilder’s wife, on behalf of the Gene Wilder Estate. Wilder is known for his roles in films including The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein . Other late Hollywood actors, including Carrie Fisher, Harold Ramis and Paul Walker, have had their likeness replicated using AI.

Willy Wonka has left a lasting cultural imprint, inspiring generations of adaptations,

merchandise, concerts and pop culture references. Wonka’s The Golden Ticket will make its Netflix debut on Sept 23.

Wilder as Willy Wonka in the 1971 film. – WARNERBROSPIC