Major Hollywood studios and entertainment organizations are pushing back against Seedance 2.0, a powerful new AI video generator released by ByteDance that can create realistic video clips using simple text prompts, according to TechCrunch.
The tool allows users to generate short videos, currently limited to about 15 seconds, by typing a brief description. Similar to other emerging AI video models, Seedance 2.0 can produce highly realistic scenes that resemble professional film footage. But unlike traditional production, these clips can be generated in seconds without actors, cameras, or filming locations.
Almost immediately after its release, the tool sparked outrage across the entertainment industry. One viral example showed a video of Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt, reportedly created using only a two line prompt. The realism and ease of creation alarmed industry professionals, including Deadpool screenwriter Rhett Reese, who reacted bluntly by saying, “It’s likely over for us.”
Hollywood organizations quickly escalated their response. The Motion Picture Association accused ByteDance of engaging in large scale copyright infringement and demanded the company stop distributing the tool without stronger protections. The group argued that allowing AI to recreate copyrighted characters, actors, and scenes without permission threatens millions of creative jobs and undermines intellectual property protections.
Major studios have also taken direct legal action. Disney sent a cease and desist letter after discovering Seedance generated videos featuring its iconic characters, including Spider Man, Darth Vader, and Grogu, also known as Baby Yoda. Paramount followed with its own legal warning, claiming that videos produced by Seedance were sometimes nearly indistinguishable from scenes in its films and television shows.
The controversy highlights growing tensions between AI developers and creative industries. While AI video tools promise faster content creation and new creative possibilities, they also raise serious legal and ethical concerns. Studios fear these tools could allow anyone to recreate copyrighted characters, actors, and cinematic styles without paying licensing fees or involving original creators.
ByteDance has so far made Seedance 2.0 available to Chinese users through its Jianying app, with plans to expand globally through CapCut. If widely released, it could dramatically lower the barrier to professional level video production.
This development signals a major shift in how video content may be created in the future. For decades, filmmaking required massive budgets, specialized equipment, and large teams. Now, AI tools like Seedance could allow individuals to generate convincing cinematic content instantly, raising urgent questions about ownership, creativity, and the future of entertainment.
