Artificial intelligence remains one of the most divisive topics in the entertainment industry. Several major Hollywood directors have come down on both sides of the issue. Speaking at a recent event, Ron Howard expressed his excitement about the storytelling possibilities the new technology offers.
More controversially, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Howard also argued that the late Jim Henson would have embraced AI if he were alive today.
Ron Howard Sees AI as a Powerful Creative Tool
Appearing at the Runway AI Film Festival in New York, Ron Howard spoke to the crowd before a screening of ten entirely AI-generated short films. The director said of the technology, “It’s very exciting in terms of its potential to more efficiently and more broadly help storytellers get their ideas out there.”
“There are so many facts yet to be sorted out,” he added. However, he argued that the possibilities AI offers will eventually become widely recognized. “We will want it,” Howard said.
Ron Howard in 2025 – People, YouTube
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Business Insider reports that at the event Howard said AI is not something he has directly encountered in any of his projects. Yet he compared it to CGI and traditional animation, which are already commonly used.
“There are already CGI characters, there are already animated characters,” Howard said. “I expect there’s room for all of it.”
Regardless of the technology used, Ron Howard said, “Story is always king.”
Why Howard Thinks Jim Henson Would Have Embraced AI
In 2024, Ron Howard directed Jim Henson: Idea Man, a documentary about Henson’s life and career. While Howard has said in interviews that he only met Henson briefly backstage at a talk show, he spoke extensively with Frank Oz and others who were close to the legendary puppeteer while making the film. Howard is also a longtime friend of George Lucas, another frequent Henson collaborator. The perspective he gained through those relationships and the documentary itself may explain why he feels confident that Jim Henson would have embraced AI.
Kermit the Frog in The Muppets (2011) – YouTube, Muppet Songs
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According to Howard, Henson’s reputation as a practical-effects pioneer has led some people to misunderstand his attitude toward technology.
“Jim Henson just wanted to be busy making [things],” Howard said. Howard argued that the creative innovator was always looking for new ways to tell stories and experiment with emerging technologies, making AI a tool he likely would have explored rather than rejected.
The claim is likely to spark debate among fans. Henson is widely remembered for his groundbreaking puppetry work and hands-on craftsmanship. However, he was also known for embracing technological innovation throughout his career, frequently experimenting with animatronics, visual effects, and other emerging production techniques.
Hollywood Remains Deeply Divided on AI
Howard’s comments come at a time when many major industry figures are weighing in on AI. Directors Guillermo del Toro and Christopher Nolan have expressed skepticism—if not outright hostility—toward its use. James Cameron and Martin Scorsese, like Howard, have argued that the technology offers new creative possibilities.
Jim Henson the trailer for Jim Henson: Idea Man – Disney Plus, YouTube
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Meanwhile, Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski has suggested that, while AI is inevitable, a rating system should be implemented to inform audiences about the extent of its use in a film.
Whether Jim Henson would have shared Ron Howard’s enthusiasm for AI is impossible to know. What is clear is that the conversation surrounding AI in entertainment is only beginning, and some of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers appear increasingly willing to embrace the technology.
Do you agree with Ron Howard that Jim Henson would have used AI? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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