For the actors of the voice who previously portrayed Dark Vader in video games, the function of Fortnite clearly illustrates how the vocal synthesis of the AI could reshape their profession. While James Earl Jones created the emblematic voice for films, at least 54 votes players have played as Vader in various media games over the years when Jones was not available – a job that could disappear if the replicas of AI become the standard of industry.
The union returns
The complaint of the work of Sag-Aftra (which can be read online here) does not focus on the technical problems of the functionality of the AI or on the authorization of the Jones domain, which explicitly authorized the use of a version synthesized of its voice for the character of Fortnite. The late actor, who died in 2024, had signed his rights in the voice of Dark Vader before his death.
Instead, the union’s grievances focus on labor rights and collective negotiations. In the NLRB file, SAG-AFTRA alleys that Llama Productions “failed and refused to negotiate in good faith with the union by making unilateral modifications under the terms and conditions of employment, without providing the union or the possibility of negotiating the interactive program.”
The action comes in the middle of the Interactive Media strike in the course of SAG-AFTRA, which began in July 2024 after negotiations with video game producers blocked mainly on the protections of the AI. The strike continues, with more than 100 games signing temporary agreements, while others, including those of large publishers like Epic, remain in dispute.
