Director Steven Soderbergh recently addressed concerns about his use of artificial intelligence technology in his new John Lennon documentary. He confirmed that Lennon’s son Sean gave him permission to incorporate AI elements. The filmmaker shared his perspective on the project in an interview with Deadline.
Soderbergh explained his approach to using AI technology and addressed misconceptions about the project’s intentions.
“I think people, when they heard about this project and that I was using AI tech, jumped to the absolute worst conclusion, which is, ‘He’s going to try and bring John Lennon back to life,'” Soderbergh said. “And all I can say is, have we met? Do I look like somebody that would do that? So it’s a little hard to talk about also because I feel once you’ve seen the movie, you go, ‘Oh, of course.'”
The director emphasized the distinction between different applications of AI technology in filmmaking.
“There’s a way of using AI in which your intention is to fool somebody or manipulate them, to create an image that you want them to think is real,” he continued. “And then there’s a use, which is what we’re doing in the documentary, where it’s obvious that it is AI and that it is being used essentially in the way that you would use VFX or CGI or any sort of non-photographic technology.”
Soderbergh described how the AI serves a specific creative purpose in illustrating concepts from Lennon’s interviews.
“It’s a way of comically illustrating something that John is talking about. You can’t shoot that,” he explained. “And even if you did somehow – you came up with some justification for shooting a bunch of one-year-old babies dressed in tie-dye outfits, crying their eyes out – even if you did it, if people knew it was real, it wouldn’t be funny.”
The filmmaker also revealed his conversation with Sean Lennon about how his father might have viewed the technology.
“I asked Sean (Lennon), ‘What do you think your dad’s take on this tech would’ve been?’ And he said, ‘Oh, he would’ve wanted to engage,'” Soderbergh shared. “He loved all new technology. All The Beatles did. He would want to play with it just to see what it could do. He goes, ‘That was the way he was.’ How he would’ve felt about it ultimately, we’ll never know, but he said he would’ve wanted to play with it.”
The documentary “John Lennon: The Last Interview” represents Soderbergh’s latest exploration of innovative filmmaking techniques. It builds on his reputation for experimental approaches to cinema.
The Independent reported that the documentary focuses on John Lennon’s final in-depth radio interview. The interview took place with his wife Yoko Ono on December 8, 1980—just 12 hours before his death. The interview was given to RKO Radio, making it historically significant as one of Lennon’s last recorded statements. This timing adds profound weight to the documentary’s content and Soderbergh’s careful approach to handling the material.
The scope of AI implementation in the film is notably measured and purposeful. MusicRadar noted that AI-generated scenes comprise approximately 10% of the documentary. Soderbergh specifically used AI to create visual content for sections where Lennon and Ono discuss abstract philosophical concepts, rather than concrete experiences or specific people. The director partnered with Meta to develop these AI-generated images and videos.
Soderbergh’s defense of his approach aligns with documented aspects of Lennon’s personality and interests. The director has emphasized that he used AI as a creative tool that reflects Lennon’s known character. He stated that Lennon “loved all new technology” and “would want to play with it just to see what it could do.” This framing directly supports the narrative that Sean Lennon’s approval reflects his father’s documented openness to technological experimentation throughout his career.
The project currently remains without a confirmed release date. MusicRadar revealed that Soderbergh is still seeking a distributor for the documentary. Despite the ongoing search for distribution, the film has already generated significant discussion about the ethical and creative implications of using AI technology in biographical documentaries, particularly when dealing with deceased subjects.
