Robot cast as lead in new movie; rise of machines to follow

Well, it was good while it lasted. But now that Tony Kaye, best known for directing American History X, is casting an “Artificial Intelligent (A.I.) actor” as the lead in his next film, 2nd Born, it looks like humanity’s reign over the Earth is ending. We’ll always remember the good times.

This report — the acting part, not the bit about the world ending — comes from Deadline. Apparently, Kaye wants to use a physical robotic actor to get around the need to use computer-generated special effects. The filmmakers even want to get the robot into the Screen Actors Guild, which you know would tick off people like Linda Hamilton and Ed Harris and all the other performers who have been fighting to keep us safe from the robotic menace onscreen for years.

Here’s the other interesting part: although it has a sinister name, 2nd Born is not a sci-fi movie. It’s a sequel to 1st Born, an indie comedy from director Ali Atshani about a marriage between an Iranian man and an American woman. The bride’s troubled pregnancy forces the couples’ patriotic dads (Val Kilmer and Jay Abdo) to put aside their differences for the sake of their grandchild.

So…why does the sequel to a lightweight family comedy require a robotic actor? What special effects, exactly, will it cover for? I have no idea. But please, Mr. Kaye, don’t let my confusion stop you from crossing a line man was not meant to cross and dooming us all.

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