Robert Downey Jr. is currently starring in a Broadway play called, “McNeal,” at Lincoln Center Theater. Here’s the poster for it.

The production uses AI to create a visually immersive experience, incorporating realistic digital likenesses and other AI-driven elements This innovative approach aims to reflect how people perceive and interact with AI.  The play is about an author, who uses artificial intelligence to write a novel.

Interestingly, Downey Jr. has expressed concerns about the use of AI and deepfakes in Hollywood, particularly regarding the unauthorized recreation of his likeness. He has stated that he would take legal action to protect his rights.

The play blurs lines between AI and human influence, with projections showing AI prompts, literary references, and themes from works like *Madame Bovary* and *Hedda Gabler*, blending McNeal’s experiences with iconic stories. The set itself resembles a tech device, enhancing the AI-dominated atmosphere. However, the production has received mixed reviews; some critics found its AI effects underwhelming, and its experimental narrative, while thought-provoking, occasionally felt convoluted. Nonetheless, *McNeal* pushes the audience to reflect on AI’s role in art and authorship.

Robert Downey Jr.’s new Broadway play *McNeal*, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, is an ambitious exploration of artificial intelligence and the nature of human creativity. Downey stars as Jacob McNeal, a famous author struggling with AI’s encroachment on literature, while dealing with personal and health challenges. Set in the near future, McNeal grapples with the rise of AI-authored novels, lamenting their lack of depth compared to classic literature, and questioning whether true creative genius can be replicated by machines.