Neighbours Soap Opera Recut with AI Criticized by Cast

Artificial intelligence tools are recutting the Australian soap opera Neighbours into microdramas designed to be watched on phones, sparking a debate among the show’s actors and the industry over television archives being mined for new content, The Guardian reported.

RoseBerry Media AI Project Recuts Margot Robbie Episodes

RoseBerry Media, a company specializing in vertical phone television, has repurposed original episodes of Neighbours for its Epis platform using an AI-assisted production tool called RedSnapper. The resulting microdrama focuses primarily on Margot Robbie’s character, Donna Freedman, whom she played from 2008 to 2011. Two of Robbie’s storylines are being recut into vertical micro-episodes to create approximately 150 minutes of content.

Fremantle’s commercial and international chief executive, Jens Richter, described the initiative as an exciting example of how technology and creative thinking can unlock new value from our diverse catalog and content library in comments reported by Variety last month. Fremantle defended the project to The Guardian by stating it will only use original, previously broadcast footage, dialogue, and performances. A spokesperson added that RedSnapper does not generate new scenes or performances, alter actors’ faces or likenesses, or use synthetic voices, noting that human editors reviewed and approved every stage of the process.

Stefan Dennis and Matthew Werkmeister Condemn Archive Exploitation

Cast members have sharply criticized the venture. Longtime Neighbours star Stefan Dennis told the Herald Sun that the project was unbelievably invasive, morally and legally wrong and somehow it appears we can’t do anything about it. Dennis stated he had his agent on the matter and assumed other cast members, along with the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Australian Writers’ Guild, were doing the same.

Matthew Werkmeister, who played Zeke Kinski from 2005 to 2011, told The Guardian he only discovered the deal when contacted for comment. I find it extremely concerning, Werkmeister said, not from any money-making point of view, but from my image being used through AI and a platform I did not consent to. Werkmeister noted he was 13 when he signed his original contract and dismissed the project as a money grab for Fremantle intended to dump their existing library to make a quick buck off Robbie’s star power. Mattie Webb, an agent for actor Sam Clark, said Clark was waiting to hear from Sag-Aftra before commenting, while describing AI as a rapid industry disruption.

MEAA and Writers Guild Seek Regulatory Protections

Australia’s acting MEAA CEO, Adam Portelli, confirmed the union is assisting cast members and called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and parliament to legislate protections ensuring creative workers are fairly compensated when exploited by AI. A spokesperson for the Australian Writers’ Guild stated the organization is in discussions with Fremantle to reach a fair resolution. The Guardian understands that residuals will be paid to writers and actors according to their original agreements for the series.