Grimes Stars in First Theatrical AI Film

Claire Boucher, widely known by her stage name Grimes, has secured a lead role in Gods Don't Give Gifts, the first feature-length film generated by artificial intelligence to receive a theatrical release. The project is scheduled to open in cinemas on December 4.

The film is directed by Zack London, who operates under the moniker Gossip Goblin. It is rated R and is set in a post-apocalyptic world called NiiroCradle. The narrative offers a satirical take on humanity's relationship with technology. The story centers on the search for a dreamspool, which is an illicit experience that allows users to inhabit alternate realities.

Boucher plays Zaynith Alda, a brish aristocrat from the wealthy Halvorith family. The character appears in several early sequences of the movie. YouTuber Mike Majlak also makes a brief appearance in the production.

The collaboration began in March through social media. London, a long-time fan, noticed that the 38-year-old artist followed his account on X. After she replied to clips he shared, he sent a direct message offering her a role and expressing his admiration for her music. The two discovered they shared many mutual connections, which led to a rapid agreement to collaborate.

To accommodate Boucher, London and co-writer Jacob Batchelor adapted the character of Zaynith Alda. Boucher helped design the role, including a mechanical mask. The team dropped the British accent that was originally planned for the character. Recording took place across multiple continents. London worked from Stockholm, editors were based in Romania, and Boucher recorded her lines from her home in Los Angeles.

Fable, the studio behind the film, is aggressively marketing the production as a contender for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Edward Saatchi, the company's CEO, stated that the film is seminal and technically novel. He argued that it is worthy of a nomination. Fable hosted screenings for members of the Academy’s animation voting bloc in New York and Los Angeles. The company also launched a marketing campaign in Times Square featuring Boucher’s character.

Mitchell Jackson, Boucher's spokesperson, said the artist appreciates independent creators using new tools. He noted that she was impressed by the large team of artists, voice actors, and musicians involved in the production. Jackson added that Boucher believes in supporting a culture of high standards in AI cinema rather than accepting a model without such guidelines.

London revealed that Boucher authorized her license for the film for free. She refused payment so that funds could be directed toward other actors and production costs. He described her as part of a class of artists who focus on the holistic statement of a project rather than the process.

The involvement follows a trend of high-profile celebrities licensing their likenesses for AI projects. UFC fighters appeared in Higgsfield’s Cully Hill Boys, and Sunny Hostin licensed her image for AI adaptations of her novels. Boucher has long championed the technology. In 2023, she launched Elf.Tech, a platform that allows fans to use her vocal likeness in tracks in exchange for a share of royalties.