Elon Musk Critiques Blade Runner 2049 Amid Lawsuit by Alcon Entertainment

Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk expressed criticism of the film Blade Runner 2049 after Alcon Entertainment filed a lawsuit against Tesla regarding alleged copyright infringement during a recent event.

What Happened: In a pointed remark, Musk stated, "That movie sucked," referring to Blade Runner 2049.

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Alcon had accused Tesla and Warner Bros Discovery of using an AI image generator to create promotional images for Tesla's "We, Robot" event, images that reportedly looked very similar to scenes from the 2017 sci-fi film, also owned by Alcon.

The lawsuit claims that Tesla and Warner Bros sought permission to use material from the film just hours before the upcoming event but were denied by Alcon. The company expressed concerns that granting permission might be seen as a "false endorsement" of Musk and Tesla, citing Musk's controversial behavior as a potential risk to their brand image.

Despite the rejection, it is alleged that Tesla used imagery inspired by Blade Runner 2049 to create promotional art that was featured prominently during their showcase.

Why It Matters: Musk's critical comment marks a shift from his earlier statements. At the "We, Robot" event held on October 10, Musk had said he enjoyed the original Blade Runner, preferring a more optimistic future over a dystopian scenario.

Previously, Musk had drawn parallels between Tesla’s designs and the Blade Runner universe, stating that Tesla’s stainless steel Cybertruck resembles vehicles one might find in that world. He has referenced Blade Runner in various ways since 2018 via social media.

The event was held at Warner Bros. Discovery studio in Los Angeles and highlighted Tesla's advancements in autonomous driving and robotics, introducing a new two-seater Cybercab and a 20-seater Robovan during the showcase.

For more insights on the future of mobility, additional information is available.

Elon, Musk, Tesla, Blade, Runner