Steven Soderbergh travels the promo circuit to talk about his new dark comedy The Christophers. The film follows the estranged children of a once‑famous artist. They hire a forger to finish their father’s unfinished works so they can sell them after his death. Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel lead the cast. The script was written by Ed Solomon, a longtime collaborator of Soderbergh. The movie blends humor with a bittersweet look at art, family, and legacy.
AI and the John Lennon Documentary
Soderbergh recently sat down with Filmmaker to discuss his work on a John Lennon and Yoko Ono documentary. He says the project is almost finished. He calls it a Steven Soderbergh AI documentary because he uses artificial intelligence to create surreal images that match the musicians’ philosophical moments. He explains that ninety percent of the visuals are archival stills. The remaining ten minutes consist of AI‑generated dream‑like scenes that appear when the subjects speak about abstract ideas.
He adds that AI helps him build images that feel like a dream space rather than a literal one. He needs a deep knowledge of literature to tell the AI what to do, and he watches the output closely. The technology, he notes, works best with tight human supervision.
How AI Shapes the Visuals
When a interviewee talks about love, loss, or inspiration, Soderbergh asks the AI to paint a visual metaphor. The result is a surreal picture that captures the mood of the words. He says this method lets him explore themes that traditional footage cannot cover. The AI images act as a bridge between the past and the present, giving the documentary a fresh visual language.
Ben Solo Project: A Firm No
In a separate interview with The Playlist, Soderbergh addressed his abandoned Star Wars idea about Ben Solo. He and Adam Driver once explored a story that would have shown the dark side of the former Jedi. The project never moved forward, and Soderbergh makes it clear that he will not revisit it.
He tells the reporter, “Nope.” He also says he does not regret the time spent on the idea. He compares the experience to a CrossFit workout – it is good for you and leaves a lasting effect. When the project fell apart, he quickly shifted his focus to new writing. He likens the change to complaining about the weather – you simply keep moving.
Soderbergh concludes that if the Ben Solo film had been possible, it would have happened by now. His decision to move on shows his willingness to adapt and explore new creative paths, such as the AI‑driven John Lennon documentary.
Overall, Soderbergh demonstrates that technology can enhance storytelling when used responsibly. He also proves that letting go of a stalled project can free up energy for fresh ideas.
Source: JoBlo
