Sarandos Unveils Generative AI on Netflix's *El Eternauta*: Building Collapse Scene Claims 10x Speed Boost

Post date: July 19, 2025 · Discovered: April 23, 2026 · 3 posts, 0 comments

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos announced that the Argentine sci-fi series *El Eternauta* utilized generative AI for on-screen footage, specifically citing an AI-generated building collapse in Buenos Aires. Sarandos claimed this marks the first time Netflix has aired an original series or film featuring this technology.

Commenters focused on the technological leap. Multiple users cited Sarandos' claim that the AI VFX sequence was 10 times faster than traditional methods. Others noted the potential financial angle, with cm0002 suggesting AI allowed funding the show at a lower cost, and geneva_convenience arguing the VFX would have been unfeasible otherwise.

The consensus takeaway is that Netflix is marketing generative AI as a massive accelerator for high-budget visual effects. The fault line exists between those viewing this as pure cost-cutting spectacle and those analyzing the technological breakthrough claims.

Key Points

#1Netflix premiered the first Netflix original series with generative AI footage.

Ted Sarandos specified *El Eternauta* as the debut title, featuring an AI-generated building collapse.

#2Generative AI drastically accelerated VFX workflows.

The most repeated claim is the sequence was 10 times faster than using traditional VFX tools.

#3AI facilitated budget constraints for the production.

cm0002 pointed out Sarandos indicated AI allowed the show to be funded at a lower cost than usual for big-budget work.

#4The technology's integration is central to the narrative promotion.

Powderhorn emphasized that the technology was used in an 'original, scripted series that debuted this year.'

Source Discussions (3)

This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.

27
points
Netflix’s first show with generative AI is a sign of what’s to come in TV, film
[email protected]·4 comments·7/19/2025·by Powderhorn·arstechnica.com
22
points
Netflix uses generative AI in one of its shows for first time
[email protected]·3 comments·7/18/2025·by cm0002·theguardian.com
19
points
Netflix uses generative AI in one of its shows for first time
[email protected]·4 comments·7/18/2025·by geneva_convenience·theguardian.com