Netflix Taps Generative AI for Sci-Fi Epic The Eternaut, Signaling a Major Industry Shift

The streaming giant has officially entered a new, controversial era of production. Netflix has confirmed the use of generative AI tools in the creation of its upcoming Argentinian sci-fi blockbuster, The Eternaut, a move explicitly aimed at reducing production costs and streamlining the creation of complex visual effects.

The decision to leverage AI on a project of this scale is a direct response to ballooning production budgets in the streaming wars. High-concept science fiction like The Eternaut, based on a beloved graphic novel, traditionally requires immense investment in VFX, set design, and location shoots. According to production sources, AI was used to generate complex background plates and digital environments, allowing the team to create vast, post-apocalyptic scenes without the expense of large-scale physical builds or extensive CGI artist hours. This signals a strategic shift for Netflix, aiming to produce visually ambitious content more efficiently and at a lower price point, a trend the entire industry is watching with keen interest.

While Netflix frames this as an innovative, cost-saving measure, the move lands in the middle of a heated industry-wide debate. The use of AI was a central point of contention in the recent WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, with creatives voicing fears of job displacement and the devaluation of human artistry. The key concern is whether AI will become a tool that empowers artists or a mechanism to replace them. For viewers, the jury is still out. The success of The Eternaut could prove that AI can help deliver cinematic spectacle on a streaming budget, or it could result in a final product that feels generic or lacks a human touch. This is no longer a theoretical discussion; Netflix is running the experiment in real-time, and the results will undoubtedly shape the future of film and television production.