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The intersection of Hollywood casting and artificial intelligence has frequently blurred the line between science fiction and corporate reality. Long before public debates erupted over synthetic speech models and generative voice tools, actor Samantha Morton experienced a striking erasure when her on-set performance for Spike Jonze’s 2013 sci-fi film Her was completely replaced in post-production by Scarlett Johansson, a behind-the-scenes pivot that left the original star surprised and saddened.
That cinematic history resurfaced as a striking precedent when legal and ethical battles later erupted over AI voice generation. As artificial intelligence systems gain the ability to mimic human cadence and tone, the entertainment industry continues to grapple with deepfakes, copyright protections, and the fundamental rights of performers over their own likeness and work.
From On-Set Performance to Post-Production Recasting
In the Spike Jonze film Her, Joaquin Phoenix stars as a lonely man who falls in love with an advanced artificial intelligence operating system named Samantha. In the finished movie, that voice belongs to Scarlett Johansson. However, the role was originally performed entirely by Samantha Morton, who was physically present on the set and worked opposite Phoenix during principal photography.
Reflecting on the experience during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Morton shared her perspective on being recast after completing the physical shoot. According to Morton, as reported by USA Today, she was surprised and stated that calling it a little sad would be an understatement, though she acknowledged that the time spent on set with Phoenix and working with Jonze on the script was very special. Morton noted that her version of the AI character was English and very different from the final American-accented portrayal delivered by Johansson.
At the time of the film’s release, Jonze explained to Vulture that Morton was amazing, but editorial discoveries in post-production revealed that the character required a different direction. Despite being replaced, Morton received an associate producer credit on Her, which went on to earn critical acclaim and five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, with Jonze winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
The Modern AI Battle Over Voice Likeness
The complexities of voice replication and digital likeness returned to the public spotlight when artificial intelligence developer OpenAI released a synthetic voice update for ChatGPT known as “Sky.” The rollout sparked immediate public comparisons to the fictional operating system portrayed by Scarlett Johansson in Her.
According to CNN, Johansson released a statement revealing she was shocked, angered, and in disbelief that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman used a synthetic voice so eerily similar to hers. Johansson stated that Altman had approached her the previous September to voice the ChatGPT 4.0 system, an offer she declined for personal reasons. She added that two days before the system’s demo release, Altman contacted her agent asking her to reconsider, but the system launched before they could connect.
Following the release, Johansson hired legal counsel, prompting OpenAI to take down the “Sky” voice after receiving two letters from her lawyers. OpenAI maintained that the voice of Sky did not belong to Johansson and was not intended to resemble hers, stating that the company cast a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice before any outreach to Johansson. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that out of respect for Johansson, the company paused using the voice and apologized for communication issues.
The controversy highlighted broader societal concerns regarding digital likeness, consent, and the protection of individual identities in an era of rapid technological advancement. Johansson emphasized in her statement that these issues demand absolute clarity and appropriate legislation to safeguard personal work and rights.
Legal and Industry Implications
As creative professionals and tech companies navigate the boundaries of synthetic media, the discussions sparked by both the production of Her and modern AI voice tools underscore a growing demand for transparency. Performers, legal experts, and legislators continue to examine how existing intellectual property frameworks apply to voice cloning, digital avatars, and synthetic speech generation.
The ongoing dialogue points toward a future where consent regarding digital replicas will remain a central battleground across both traditional cinema and emerging technology platforms.
