Artificial intelligence is starting to gain wider acceptance in Hollywood after years of tension and labor disputes. What was once a flashpoint during industry strikes is now being adopted in controlled ways by major filmmakers and studios.
Several high-profile figures have already moved in this direction, but now director Martin Scorsese has added his name to that list. According to The New York Times, Scorsese has partnered with Black Forest Labs, an AI startup founded in 2022 that focuses on image generation. His focus is narrow but significant. He wants to use AI for storyboarding, a key step in film production that maps out scenes before shooting begins.
In a video shared from his office, Scorsese demonstrated how the technology works. He described a medieval town with tight cobblestone streets and an older man driving a car. The AI system produced images that closely matched his vision. Scorsese said this allows his crew to better understand what he sees in his head.
Martin Scorsese x Black Forest Labs
The move is drawing attention because of Scorsese’s influence and long-standing reputation as a defender of traditional filmmaking. Storyboarding has long been a paid creative role, and critics argue that automation could reduce opportunities for artists. At the same time, supporters say the tool improves communication and saves time during production.
Scorsese framed the technology as a practical tool rather than a replacement for creativity. He described it as a form of “cinematic intelligence” that helps translate ideas into visuals more quickly. He pointed to a famous sequence from Goodfellas, saying tools like this could have sped up planning for complex scenes such as the Copacabana entrance.
“I’m interested in the intersection of technology and storytelling, and seeing how that can push the bounds of creativity,” Scorsese told The New York Times. “Cinema is a young medium, only around 125 years old, so we have to be open to how it can evolve.”
He also stressed the financial impact of production timelines. “For 70 years, I’ve been creating my own storyboards,” Scorsese said. “There’s always been this problem of how do you communicate what you see in your head. Now with this tool, I can share what I’m visualizing more clearly and efficiently. During preproduction, time costs money, and this allowed us to move faster without sacrificing quality or craft.”
The endorsement stands out given Scorsese’s past criticism of the modern film industry. In a 2023 interview, he suggested that traditional cinema was fading. He has also criticized the dominance of superhero films. Some observers note the contrast between those views and his current embrace of AI tools. This is not the first time Scorsese has faced pushback over new technology. His use of de-aging effects in The Irishman sparked similar debate. That controversy has since cooled as the technology became more common.
Joe Pesci was de-aged to a thinner version of Russell Bufalino, rather than just Joe Pesci at the same approximate younger age.The AI debates are far from over, but the tone is shifting in Hollywood as economic pressure and production demands push studios to move faster. That shift raises bigger, difficult questions about the future of creative work in Hollywood. AI may streamline production and cut costs, but it also challenges long-standing roles and traditions. For now, even one of cinema’s most respected voices is signaling that adaptation may no longer be optional.
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English (US) · 