Martin Scorsese Embraces AI Storyboarding in Hollywood

Martin Scorsese, one of the most respected names in cinema, is stepping into the artificial intelligence debate by backing Black Forest Labs, a fast-growing AI image and video generation company. The move is significant because Scorsese has long been seen as a defender of traditional filmmaking and cinema as an art form. His support suggests that Hollywood’s attitude toward AI may be starting to shift, especially as more filmmakers explore how the technology can be used as a creative tool rather than a replacement for human artists.

Scorsese reportedly signed on last year as a partner and adviser to Black Forest Labs. The company specializes in generative AI tools that can create images and videos from prompts. According to reports, Scorsese has already used the company’s technology during preproduction for his next film, What Happens at Night. However, the main use appears to be storyboarding, not replacing actors, writers, cameras, or crews. Storyboarding is the process of visually planning a film before production begins, helping directors communicate their ideas to cinematographers, production designers, and other creative team members.

For Scorsese, the appeal of AI seems to be about communication and efficiency. He explained that he has spent decades creating his own storyboards, but there has always been a challenge in showing others exactly what he imagines. AI tools can help him turn ideas in his head into clearer visual references for his team. He also noted that preproduction costs time and money, and that this technology can help move the process faster without sacrificing quality or craft.

His comments show a more cautious and practical approach to AI than some headlines may suggest. Scorsese is not saying AI should take over filmmaking. Instead, he is focusing on how it can support the creative process. He described cinema as a young medium, only about 125 years old, and said filmmakers should stay open to how it can evolve. This view places AI alongside other technological changes in film history, from sound and colour to digital editing, visual effects, and de-aging.

Still, Scorsese’s move comes at a tense time for Hollywood. Since generative AI became widely available in 2022, many writers, actors, animators, visual effects artists, and other workers have feared that studios could use the technology to cut jobs or replace human creativity. These concerns were a major issue during the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Some filmmakers, such as Guillermo del Toro and Park Chan-wook, have strongly criticized AI, while others, including James Cameron, Michael Mann, Werner Herzog, Darren Aronofsky, and George Miller, have shown more openness to using it.

Scorsese’s partnership with Black Forest Labs does not end the debate, but it does show that AI is becoming harder for Hollywood to ignore. Supporters argue that tools like AI storyboarding can help artists work faster and express ideas more clearly. Critics worry that even limited uses could open the door to deeper automation in filmmaking. For now, Scorsese’s endorsement suggests a middle ground: AI may be useful when it serves human storytelling, but the challenge will be making sure it strengthens creativity instead of replacing the people behind it.

Works Cited

Barnes, Brooks. “Martin Scorsese Is Embracing A.I.” The New York Times, 2 June 2026, www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/business/media/martin-scorsese-artificial-intelligence.html. 

Pimblett, Rachael. “Martin Scorsese Endorses AI and Becomes New Partner of Black Forest Labs: ‘We Have to Be Open.’” Far Out Magazine, 2 June 2026, faroutmagazine.co.uk/martin-scorsese-endorses-ai-becomes-new-partner-of-black-forest-labs-we-have-to-be-open/. 

Ruimy, Jordan. “Martin Scorsese Is Embracing AI (For Storyboarding).” World of Reel, 2 June 2026, www.worldofreel.com/blog/2026/6/2/martin-scorsese-is-embracing-ai-for-storyboards. 

“Martin Scorsese at Berlinale 2024.” Jesuit Media Lab, Feb. 2025, jesuitmedialab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Martin_Scorsese_at_Berlinale_2024-8-scaled.jpg. 

“AI Video Dashboard.” Website Files, 2024, cdn.prod.website-files.com/6468ed584d728a73522a74ce/663b911595b36074d648af1b_ai-video-dashoboard-min.webp.