Martin Scorsese Defends AI in Filmmaking, Joins Generative Startup as Partner and Advisor

The acclaimed director revealed in a recent New York Times interview, later highlighted by Culture Crave on X, that he has become a partner and advisor to generative AI company Black Forest Labs and has already experimented with AI-assisted storyboarding.

Martin Scorsese Sees AI as Part of Cinema’s Next Chapter

At a moment when many filmmakers remain cautious about artificial intelligence, Scorsese is arguing that the technology should be viewed as another step in the medium’s ongoing evolution. Explaining his enthusiasm in the field, he said, “I’m interested in the intersection of technology and storytelling, and seeing how that can push the bounds of creativity to create deeper and richer experiences for audiences.” He also pointed to cinema’s relatively short history, adding that “we have to be open to how it can evolve.”

One recent experiment left a strong impression on the director. “I recently tested this out on a scene, and the ability to visualize and immediately share the storyboard was creatively freeing,” Scorsese said. The speed of the process, he noted, offered advantages without forcing compromises elsewhere. “During the preproduction process, time costs money, and this allowed us to move faster without sacrificing quality or craft.”

The comments arrive while Scorsese remains deeply involved in several major projects. He is currently shooting the psychological horror film “What Happens at Night” in Prague, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence leading the cast. At the same time, “Cape Fear,” the 10-episode crime thriller series he executive produces alongside Steven Spielberg and starring Javier Bardem, is set to debut globally on Apple TV+ on June 5.

By publicly backing AI assisted storyboarding while taking an advisory role at Black Forest Labs, Scorsese is entering one of the industry’s most contentious conversations. Whether his endorsement influences broader attitudes in Hollywood remains to be seen, but it places one of cinema’s most celebrated directors among the technology’s most prominent advocates.