Jeremy Renner is lending his voice to “Stardust Future: Stars and Scars,” an animated feature that its makers describe as the first feature-length film created entirely with artificial intelligence.
Set for a November theatrical release, the project marks a reunion between Renner and filmmaker Yi Zhou, who previously collaborated on the documentary “Chronicles of Disney.” Renner plays the Oracle of Time, a narrator who leads audiences through a story spanning from the universe’s origins to 2080. The role marks a return to voice work for the actor, who suffered a near-fatal snowplow accident in 2023.
Zhou’s Into the Sun Entertainment plans to mount an awards campaign targeting multiple Oscar categories, including animated feature, original score, original song, sound, film editing and visual effects. Fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg appears in the film via a 3D digital rendering. The score combines Zhou’s compositions with music by the late Ennio Morricone, rearranged by the Into the Sun Collective.
A portion of the film’s revenue will go to two charities: Renner’s Rennervation Foundation, which aids foster youth, and the Motion Picture and Television Fund, supporting entertainment workers impacted by this year’s California wildfires.
Zhou says the film blends 2D and 3D animation techniques in a way she’s trademarked as a distinct narrative approach. The visual shifts mirror thematic contrasts between past and present, imagination and reality. The production company claims no previous feature has used AI to create an entire film with this combined animation style.
Drawing inspiration from Godfrey Reggio’s “Qatsi” films and composer Philip Glass, “Stardust Future” examines climate crisis, conflict, mortality and human awareness through a philosophical lens that questions whether advancing technology can coexist with natural balance.
“This is a film born from the intersection of human resilience and machine imagination,” Zhou said. “I asked AI to tell me about our past and show me our future. My team and I used AI not as a replacement for creativity but as an extension of memory to heal what humanity has broken and to dream of what we will become.”
Zhou added: “AI is a tool for humanity, not to replace human creativity. It enhances our possibilities and builds what I call an immortalityscape, a vision where art, bodies, memory and technology converge to transcend time. I am inspired by its positive potential for the future, as long as we make a safe and respectful use of it.”
The Chinese multimedia artist’s work has appeared at major international venues including the Venice Biennale, Shanghai Biennale, Sundance and Cannes.
Operating from Los Angeles, Rome and Hong Kong, Zhou built Into the Sun Entertainment as an integrated production company covering film, music and AI content. The female-led, Asian American and Pacific Islander-founded outfit focuses on elevating marginalized voices in front of and behind the camera.
Renner has focused on philanthropy alongside his creative work in recent years. The Rennervation Foundation, which he established in 2024, supports foster children, wildfire victims and others recovering from major losses.