SAG-AFTRA issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the casting of Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actor, in a feature film. The union warned that synthetic performers threaten the livelihoods of human actors, following reports in the Los Angeles Times that Norwood had been attached to her first movie.

Tilly Norwood is a digital creation developed by Xicoia, an AI talent venture led by producer Eline Van der Velden. The character drew international attention in 2025 after Van der Velden suggested talent agencies were interested in representing the AI performer, prompting an earlier rebuke from SAG-AFTRA.

SAG-AFTRA has repeatedly argued that AI-generated performers are trained on the work of real actors without consent or compensation. In its statement, the union said synthetic performers lack the lived experience that defines acting and called for stronger legislative protections against digital replicas.

Several working actors amplified the union's position on social media, with some pledging to avoid projects that cast AI performers. Talent representatives and studio executives were divided, with proponents framing the technology as a cost-saving tool and critics warning of an existential threat to the profession.

The controversy revived debates that dominated the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, when AI protections were a central bargaining point. Industry observers said the Norwood casting would test the durability of those hard-won contract terms as generative technology advances.