Eli Roth Admits 'Ice Cream Man' Uses AI: 'I Misspoke'
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- Eli Roth admitted AI was used in "a very small portion of a few scenes" in 'Ice Cream Man,' saying "I misspoke" after initially telling Polygon he personally drew the animated sequence, which was inspired by a 1920s-era Mickey Mouse cartoon and features a cartoon that hypnotizes children into becoming murderers.
- "Ice Cream Man" premieres Aug. 7, and Roth's admission came after social media posts claimed AI was used "abundantly" and pointed to the involvement of AI visual effects studio Dark Half, which had not been disclosed.
- Representatives for Roth and Dark Half did not respond to Variety's initial request for comment.
- "Late Night with the Devil" directors Cameron and Colin Cairne had to publicly explain their use of AI after the 2023 theatrical cut featured multiple AI-generated images.
- Adam Shankman claimed 'Stop That Train' featured "ZERO shots conceived by AI" and every shot was made by "human hands" before social media users flagged the film used Ryan Kavanaugh's Acme AI and FX firm.
Why it matters: Roth becomes the third horror director this cycle to walk back AI-related statements before release, joining the Cairne brothers behind 'Late Night with the Devil' and Adam Shankman on 'Stop That Train.' For filmmakers, the pattern shows that vague or denials-first AI disclosures carry a reputational cost as audiences increasingly scrutinize credits and creators face public pressure to clarify AI involvement before opening weekend.
