Tilly Norwood: Hollywood’s First AI Movie Star to Headline Feature Film ‘Misaligned’

Tilly Norwood, an artificial intelligence actress, is set to star in the upcoming feature film "Misaligned," according to a report from Patch. The AI character is the creation of the London-based production company Particle6.

The comedy-drama, announced this month, will take place in a surreal digital world called the "Tillyverse." The story follows the AI entity as it gradually develops humanlike desires, ambitions, and shame.

How was the AI actress created?

Particle6 founder Eline van der Velden began developing Tilly after seeing advances in generative video technology in 2024. The team reportedly produced many different versions before settling on her final appearance, navigating early issues like distorted bodies and extra fingers.

"That’s where the critical human eye comes in," Van der Velden told the Los Angeles Times. "The choice-making is important. That’s the creativity right there."

What has been the reaction from Hollywood?

Major performers' unions have pushed back against the concept. SAG-AFTRA has rejected Particle6’s description of Tilly as an actor, calling her a computer-generated character without emotions or lived experience. The union contends AI systems are often trained using the work of professionals without proper permission or compensation.

The British union Equity raised similar concerns about consent and transparency. This criticism reportedly led talent agencies, which had initially shown interest, to back away from representing the synthetic character.

Van der Velden disputes claims that Tilly is meant to replace human actors, emphasizing the collaborative role of human filmmakers. She told Reuters this week, "Tilly was made to be a talking point. I'm glad that she's entertaining people, whether it's positively or negatively." The film is currently in early development.