Blade Runner 2049 Producers Sue Elon Musk Over Tesla's Robotaxi Ad
26 October 2024

Blade Runner 2049 Producers Sue Elon Musk Over Tesla's Robotaxi Ad

In a clash between Hollywood and Silicon Valley, Alcon Entertainment, the production company behind "Blade Runner 2049," has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and Warner Bros Discovery. The legal action stems from Tesla's alleged unauthorized use of imagery from the 2017 Denis Villeneuve-directed film during their recent Robotaxi launch event.

The Controversial Advertisement

During Tesla's Robotaxi presentation on October 10, the company displayed footage featuring a figure standing before dilapidated buildings in an orange desert landscape. According to the lawsuit, this scene appears to be an AI-generated recreation of an iconic moment from "Blade Runner 2049."

Musk openly referenced the film during the presentation, stating, "I love Blade Runner, but I don't think we want that future. Maybe we want the coat, but not the gloomy apocalypse. We want a fun and exciting future." These comments have now become central to the legal proceedings.


Legal Grounds and Previous Rejection

In their legal filing, Alcon Entertainment revealed they had specifically denied Tesla's request to use the film's imagery. The production company cited several reasons for their rejection, including:

Musk's "highly political, mercurial behavior"

Instances of "hate speech-adjacent arbitrary conduct"

Potential conflicts with ongoing negotiations with other automotive brands for their upcoming "Blade Runner 2099" series

Industry Reactions and Additional Claims

The lawsuit has sparked wider industry discussion, with "I, Robot" director Alex Proyas joining the criticism. Proyas pointed out Tesla's use of "We, Robot" in their marketing, suggesting another potential intellectual property dispute involving Isaac Asimov's work.

The legal documents also allege that Tesla's AI-generated content included:

A character resembling Ryan Gosling

Futuristic vehicle designs similar to the Peugeot models featured in the film


Background Context

"Blade Runner 2049" was both a critical and commercial success:

88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes

89% audience score

$259.2 million worldwide box office earnings

Musk's response to the lawsuit came via his social media platform X, where he simply stated, "That movie was terrible" – a comment that stands in stark contrast to the film's widespread acclaim.