AI filmmaking technology is stepping into the spotlight as the upcoming Bitcoin biopic “Killing Satoshi” reveals plans to use artificial intelligence to create virtual locations and refine actor performances.

The film, directed by Doug Liman and produced by Ryan Kavanaugh, disclosed in a U.K. casting notice that actors will perform on a markerless performance capture stage instead of real-world locations. According to the notice, new AI technologies will be used to adjust elements of performances, including facial expressions, lip movements, and body gestures.

The production emphasizes that AI will not generate recognizable digital replicas of actors’ voices or likenesses without prior written consent.

AI Performance Adjustments and Virtual Production

The AI filmmaking technology used in “Killing Satoshi” will allow producers to modify performances after filming. The casting notice states that the production reserves the right to change or reprocess performances using generative AI and machine learning tools.

Producer Ryan Kavanaugh explained that the team is using performance capture AI rather than creating fully AI-generated actors. He stressed that the goal is to make filmmaking more efficient while preserving jobs across the production process.

A source close to the project clarified that references to AI-generated actors were mistakenly included in the casting notice. According to the source, all performers in the film will be real actors.

However, the film will rely entirely on AI-generated backgrounds and scenery, eliminating the need for on-location shooting. AI tools may also be used to enhance performance details, avoiding the need for costly reshoots while maintaining the original dialogue.

Industry Debate Over AI and Actor Rights

The use of AI filmmaking technology in “Killing Satoshi” highlights broader debates around compensation, consent, and creative ownership in the entertainment industry.

Labor organizations such as SAG-AFTRA are actively negotiating protections around the reuse and repurposing of performances. The growing use of synthetic performance tools has intensified discussions about safeguarding actors’ name, image, and likeness rights across film and television production.

These issues remain central to ongoing union negotiations and copyright discussions, particularly as AI capabilities expand within creative industries.

Story Behind the Bitcoin Creator

Killing Satoshi stars Pete Davidson and Casey Affleck and explores the mystery surrounding Bitcoin’s anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. The project focuses on the search for Nakamoto’s identity, a digital-era mystery that has inspired extensive media coverage, books, documentaries, and online speculation.

The film is financed through Kavanaugh’s production company Proxima alongside Aperture Media Partners, with a screenplay by Gran Torino writer Nick Schenk. Production is set to begin in the U.K., with casting currently underway for supporting roles.

As AI filmmaking technology continues to reshape production workflows, Killing Satoshi signals how artificial intelligence could redefine how films are created, performed, and produced.