This Emerging Tech Studio Just Debuted AI Actress Tilly Norwood, Naming Her the "Next Scarlett Johansson"

Summary

• An AI actress named Tilly Norwood has debuted, with the studio behind her aiming to make her the “next Scarlett Johansson”
• Her arrival has ignited a heated debate in Hollywood about the role of AI in the industry
• While some are skeptical, a number of talent agencies are reportedly in talks to sign her

The future of acting may have just arrived, and her name is Tilly Norwood. At the recent Zurich Summit, a panel on emerging technology was told that Norwood, a computer-generated actress, is attracting the attention of multiple Hollywood talent agents. The news has ignited a heated debate within the entertainment industry, with the AI talent studio behind her confirming its goal: for Tilly to become the “next Scarlett Johansson.”

Tilly Norwood is the first creation from Xicoia, an AI talent studio founded by actress and producer Eline Van der Velden. According to Van der Velden, industry attitudes toward AI have shifted rapidly, with studios that were initially skeptical now showing serious interest. This change comes after a year of major strikes, where the threat of AI in Hollywood was a central concern for actors and writers. While some are embracing the new technology, others are sounding the alarm. Prominent actors, including Melissa Barrera, have publicly voiced their outrage and called for a boycott of any talent agency that chooses to sign an AI actress. The debate centers on the fundamental question of whether an AI can truly replace human creativity and labor.

In a statement to Broadcast International, Van der Velden shared plans for Tilly, “We want Tilly to be the next Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman, that’s the aim of what we’re doing. People are realizing that their creativity doesn’t need to be boxed in by a budget – there are no constraints creatively and that’s why AI can really be a positive. It’s just about changing people’s viewpoint.” For now, Tilly Norwood exists in a curious in-between space: an unproven star with immense potential, whose debut has already forced the industry to confront a future it once hoped to avoid.