AceShowbiz - "God, I hope not AI." With these words, Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage sums up his apprehension about the growing influence of artificial intelligence in Hollywood. As AI technology becomes more prevalent in the film industry, Cage, along with other prominent actors, expresses fear and uncertainty about its implications.

The "Longlegs" actor voiced his reservations during an interview with "The Orchid Thief" author Susan Orlean for The New Yorker. Scheduled for a digital scan for his upcoming "Spider-Man Noir" live-action series, Cage shared his discomfort with how his likeness could be manipulated by AI.

"They have to put me in a computer and match my eye color and change - I don't know," Cage commented, before jokingly adding, "They're just going to steal my body and do whatever they want with it via digital AI."

However, the humor quickly faded as Cage expressed deeper concerns. "It makes me wonder, you know, where will the truth of the artists end up? Is it going to be replaced? Is it going to be transmogrified? Where's the heartbeat going to be?" he questioned.

Cage's anxieties aren't just a fleeting paranoia; they're rooted in recent experiences. For instance, his cameo as Superman in last year's "The Flash" wasn't the scene he had originally filmed.

"When I went to the picture, it was me fighting a giant spider. I did not do that," Cage revealed. He explained that his actual scene involved Kal-El bearing witness to the end of a universe, a role requiring him to convey emotion solely through his eyes.

The actor's fears are echoed by his peers. John Cusack, Cage's "Con Air" co-star, has been vocal about the threat AI poses, particularly how studios plan to exploit it. Cusack described AI as a "criminal enterprise," warning that studios want to scan extras, own their likenesses forever, and eventually eliminate them from the business. "That's what AI is - a giant copyright identity theft - criminal enterprise," Cusack insisted.

Despite the tech industry's promises of innovation, AI's encroachment isn't viewed as entirely beneficial. Late stars like Judy Garland and James Dean have been resurrected via AI, narrating books and essays on Reader App through companies like ElevenLabs, which have received legal permission from their estates. While some, like Garland's daughter Liza Minnelli, support these ventures, the ethical implications remain a hot topic.

Perhaps Cage's sentiments can be best encapsulated by his own words, "What are you going to do with my body and my face when I'm dead? I don't want you to do anything with it!" As AI continues to evolve, the conversation about ethical boundaries in Hollywood is far from over.