Hollywood’s actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Llama Productions, a company under the ownership of Epic Games. The complaint, filed on Monday, alleges that the company used artificial intelligence to replicate the voice of Darth Vader in the video game Fortnite, without notifying or negotiating with the union.
SAG-AFTRA claims that Llama Productions violated labor laws by making significant changes to employment terms without engaging in required bargaining. Specifically, the union accuses the company of using AI-generated voices to replace union-covered work, bypassing established labor agreements.
Epic Games, the parent company, has not issued a public response to the complaint.
The union has been in a prolonged dispute with major gaming companies, launching a strike in July after negotiations failed. A key point of contention has been the use of AI in gaming, particularly in ways that might replace human performers without their consent or compensation.
In a public statement, SAG-AFTRA emphasized its commitment to protecting the rights of performers and their estates to control how their digital likenesses and voices are used. The union stressed the importance of negotiating fair terms when AI technologies are used to mimic work previously performed by actors—such as the distinctive voice of Darth Vader in video games.
