Neighbours stars fear AI edits 'cutting up a Picasso' without consent

Former Neighbours actors and crew are expressing alarm over plans to use artificial intelligence to re-edit old footage into short, vertical mini-episodes for mobile viewing. According to BBC News ^[1], the Fremantle production company has partnered with US-based RoseBerry Media for the project, which aims to "scan decades of episodes" to create content for new audiences.

The initiative will initially focus on footage of Margot Robbie, who played Donna Freedman between 2008 and 2011. While Fremantle and RoseBerry Media state the move will bring the defunct soap to new viewers, several key figures argue they have not consented to their images, voices, or work being repurposed in this manner. Robbie has not yet responded publicly to the controversy.

The technology is described by the companies as an AI-assisted tool that maps character arcs and storylines to help human editors identify strong material. A Fremantle spokesman told the BBC ^[1] that the process uses original, previously broadcast footage and does not generate new scenes, alter actors' likenesses, or use synthetic voices. However, the prospect of algorithmic curation has unsettled those who built the show.

Matt Werkmeister, who played Zeke Kinski and shared many scenes with Robbie, says he has not been approached by the companies. Now a Melbourne-based producer, Werkmeister argues that consent is crucial when creating new narratives from existing work. He noted that when he signed his contract two decades ago, streaming platforms did not exist, leaving him uncertain about his current rights regarding how his performance is used.

Sam Clark, who played Ringo Brown, shares this uncertainty. Speaking from Los Angeles, Clark stated he learned of the project through news reports rather than direct contact. He expressed no opposition to his work finding a "second life" but emphasized that AI and social media were not factors when he signed his contract twenty years ago. He is currently trying to understand the legal parameters of the re-editing.

The backlash extends to the crew as well. Sound recordist Bruce Findlay, who worked on Neighbours from episode one, compared the AI process to "cutting up a Picasso and rebuilding it." He described the effort to chop decades of carefully crafted content into tiny pieces using AI as belittling the production process. Findlay, 68, highlighted the hard work invested in the original product, which aired its final episode last year.

Guy Hameiri, head of RoseBerry Media, defended the project as the first use of their in-house AI tool to sift through more than 9,300 episodes for "premium vertical television." He stated the goal is to reimagine the material to give it "new audiences, new relevance and new value." Jens Richter, head of Fremantle’s international arm, echoed this sentiment, calling it an exciting example of unlocking value from their catalogue.

The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) confirmed it is in discussions with Fremantle regarding the issue. MEAA acting CEO Adam Portelli stated that workers should be consulted before their likeness or expertise is used in ways they could not have envisioned when signing contracts decades ago. While residuals are expected to be paid to actors and writers, this provision does not apply to crew members, adding to the tension. The outcome of these negotiations will likely determine the future of AI-driven re-edits in the industry.