SAG-AFTRA Sues Epic Games Subsidiary for Using AI to Replace Darth Vader Voice Actor

Labor Rights Fight in the Age of AI: SAG-AFTRA Accuses Llama Productions of Using AI to Replace Darth Vader in Fortnite Without Union Negotiation

The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has filed a formal complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Llama Productions, a subsidiary of Epic Games, alleging that the company used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create the voice of Darth Vader in the game Fortnite without union approval or negotiation.

The incident erupted amid an online outcry after an AI version of Darth Vader appeared in Fortnite's "Galactic Battles" event and made racist and profane comments. While Epic has not confirmed the source of the voice, there is ample evidence that Darth Vader was not voiced by a real actor, but rather by an AI.

"We only found out about this when they issued a press release," a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson told Decrypt. "This is a clear violation of our collective bargaining agreement and a disregard for the role of the union in protecting the rights of actors."

SAG-AFTRA has stressed that replacing actors with AI cannot be done unilaterally. "We are not against AI, but its use must be through transparent and lawful bargaining processes," the spokesperson stressed.

Efforts to Protect Actors’ Jobs
In its complaint to the NLRB, SAG-AFTRA is asking the agency to force Llama Productions to renegotiate and potentially reinstate the affected actors and pay them. “The employer unilaterally changed the conditions of employment by replacing the actors with AI-generated voices, without notice or negotiation with the union,” the lawsuit reads.

The incident also comes as SAG-AFTRA voice actors are on strike through July 2024, focused on the widespread use of AI in the gaming and entertainment industries without proper oversight.

Epic Games has yet to respond.

Legal Issues Over “Voice Legacy”
The lawsuit also raises questions about the use of voices from deceased actors. James Earl Jones, who was the voice of Darth Vader, died in 2024 and had licensed his voice to Lucasfilm for future projects. However, Epic’s use of an AI voice to simulate a character in a product not affiliated with Lucasfilm raises questions about the rights and ethics of “digital clones.”

In addition to Jones, many other late artists such as Judy Garland, James Dean, Jimmy Stewart have also licensed their AI voices to companies – a fact that raises big questions for the industry.

SAG-AFTRA affirmed that it respects the rights of artists to own digital clones, but also emphasized: “The right to negotiate and protect working conditions must be maintained, even for digital assets that represent cultural icons like Darth Vader.”

The battle between technology and labor rights continues, and the outcome of this lawsuit could be a milestone in shaping the future of human-AI collaboration in the entertainment industry.