Peter Jackson is opening up about artificial intelligence in Hollywood, motion capture performances, and why he decided not to direct the next Lord of the Rings film. Speaking during a Cannes Film Festival masterclass after receiving an honorary Palme d’Or, the legendary filmmaker shared surprisingly relaxed views on AI being used in movies, calling it simply another filmmaking tool. “I don’t dislike it at all,” Jackson said while discussing AI in cinema. “To me, it’s just a special effect.”

The Oscar-winning director admitted AI could become dangerous in larger ways, joking that it might “destroy the world,” but clarified that he does not see a problem with the technology being used responsibly in filmmaking.

Jackson said the real issue begins when actors’ likenesses are stolen or recreated without permission.

“If you’re doing an AI duplicate of somebody, as long as you’ve licensed the rights off the person, I don’t see the issue,” he explained. “It’s when people’s likenesses get stolen and usurped.”

The Lord of the Rings filmmaker also spoke passionately about motion capture acting and why he believes Andy Serkis was unfairly overlooked during awards season for his iconic portrayal of Gollum.

According to Jackson, the ongoing stigma around digital performances has made it nearly impossible for actors playing CGI-enhanced characters to receive proper recognition.

“A Gollum-type character has no hope for winning awards,” Jackson said. “Which is unfair, especially in Andy Serkis’ case where it’s a human-generated performance 100 percent of the way.”

Serkis famously used performance capture technology to bring Gollum to life in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, a role now considered one of the most groundbreaking performances in modern fantasy cinema.

Jackson also teased the upcoming Lord of the Rings film, The Hunt for Gollum, which Serkis will direct and star in himself.

The filmmaker revealed he intentionally stepped away from directing duties because he believed Serkis understood the character better than anyone else.

“The film is about Gollum’s psychology and addiction,” Jackson explained. “Andy knows this guy better than anybody.”

He added that letting Serkis direct felt like the most exciting version of the movie possible.

During the Cannes event, Jackson was presented with the honorary Palme d’Or by Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in the original trilogy.

Wood praised Jackson for changing filmmaking forever with Lord of the Rings, while Jackson reflected on how risky the trilogy once seemed before footage from The Fellowship of the Ring received a massive reaction at Cannes back in 2001.

“That reception changed the perception of the film,” Jackson said, recalling how many believed adapting Tolkien’s world would fail before audiences finally saw what he was building.

American Idol viewers are furious after fan-favorite contestant Keyla Richardson finished in third place during the season 24 finale. Moments after the results were announced Monday night, Keyla’s mother, Katja Richardson, took to Facebook to vent her frustration over the outcome. “My baby was robbed,” she wrote. “She did not fail. She was robbed. I’m sorry. I’m gonna say it.”

The emotional reaction instantly spread online as fans flooded social media with similar responses, insisting the gospel singer deserved a spot in the final two, or even the win itself.

Keyla ultimately finished behind runner-up Jordan McCullough and winner Hannah Harper.

Throughout the season, Richardson became one of the standout contestants thanks to her powerhouse vocals, emotional performances, and touching moments with her young son Drew, who was often seen singing along from the audience during her performances.

For her final night on the Idol stage, Keyla performed Alicia Keys’ “Un-Thinkable,” Whitney Houston’s “I Love the Lord,” and also sang a duet of Jason Mraz’s “I Won’t Give Up.”

Judge Luke Bryan praised her dedication and growth throughout the competition.

“This whole year I just watched you focus with drive and determination,” Bryan told her. “We’ve seen you give it your all for your family and your people.”

Despite missing out on the crown, Richardson herself appeared optimistic after the finale.

“The journey has been amazing, we are just getting started,” she wrote alongside photos from the show.

Fans quickly rallied around her online.

“My 8-year-old sobbed on the couch when they called your name,” one person commented. “I assured her you’re gonna be just fine.”

Others called her “the real winner” of the season and predicted she would still go on to have a major career after the show.

Several viewers even compared Richardson to Jennifer Hudson, who famously finished seventh on American Idol before eventually becoming an EGOT winner.

Hudson herself had praised Keyla earlier this season after her emotional performance of “The Circle of Life” during Disney Night.

“You just performed it like your testimony,” Hudson told her at the time. While Hannah Harper officially walked away with the season 24 title, it’s pretty clear a huge portion of the audience believes Keyla Richardson’s story is far from over.