Netflix Turns To AI For Dramatic Scene In Sci-Fi Series The Eternaut
In a first for the streaming giant, Netflix has confirmed it used artificial intelligence (AI) to generate a major scene in its original sci-fi series The Eternaut. The admission came straight from co-CEO Ted Sarandos during the company’s Q2 2025 earnings call, and it marks a significant moment for the entertainment industry.
The scene in question appears in The Eternaut, Netflix’s latest post-apocalyptic thriller. Released on April 30, 2025, the eight-episode series features a gripping storyline set in Argentina. In one particularly intense moment, a train crashes into a building in Buenos Aires, causing it to collapse, and that entire scene was created with the help of AI.
Netflix boss Ted Sarandos says they used generative AI for the first time to cut costs on their sci-fi show ‘The Eternaut’
“AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better — not just cheaper” pic.twitter.com/97lYYGcYWV— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) July 19, 2025
According to reports, Sarandos explained that AI wasn’t just a creative experiment, it was a practical choice. Using traditional VFX tools would have taken much longer and cost significantly more. In fact, he claimed the AI-generated sequence was completed “10 times faster” than it would have taken using standard VFX techniques, and doing it the old-fashioned way would have stretched the show’s budget beyond reason.
While Sarandos didn’t go into detail about the specific AI tools or models they used, he made it clear that the results were impressive enough for Netflix to seriously consider using AI again in future productions. The goal, he said, isn’t just to make shows cheaper, but to help creators do more, and do it better.
The Eternaut might be the first Netflix show to feature AI-generated video, but it likely won’t be the last. The success of this experiment signals that AI is reaching a point where it can be a viable, large-scale tool for filmmakers, not just for sci-fi and fantasy, but potentially for any genre.
Netflix isn’t alone in exploring AI in filmmaking. Last year, the Oscar-nominated film The Brutalist used AI to fine-tune the actors’ Hungarian accents and help bring complex architectural designs to life. That film’s critical success only adds to the growing belief that AI has a place in modern cinema.
With its first step into AI-powered production, Netflix is opening the door to new creative possibilities. As the line between human storytelling and machine assistance blurs, we may be witnessing the beginning of a new era in how stories are told on screen.
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