Morgan Freeman on AI Voice Clones: ‘I’ve Got Lawyers’ & a Cut
Netflix’s four-part documentary series, “The Dinosaurs,” released on March 6, 2026, has quickly become a streaming success, drawing comparisons to its predecessor, “Life on Our Planet,” and benefiting from the involvement of executive producer Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment. The series, directed by Nick Shoolingin-Jordan and narrated by Morgan Freeman, charts the 150-million-year reign of dinosaurs, beginning with creatures like Marasuchus on the supercontinent of Pangaea.
The documentary builds upon the visual style established in “Life on Our Planet,” blending nature cinematography with photorealistic visual effects to depict the history of life on Earth. Showrunner Dan Tapster, who likewise worked on “Life on Our Planet,” explained the decision to dedicate an entire series to dinosaurs, stating that the previous series could only “scratch the surface” of the topic. “With ‘The Dinosaurs,’ we finally get to advise that story in full and celebrate it like no one has ever done before,” Tapster said.
The success of “The Dinosaurs” has sparked discussion about the potential for artificial intelligence to replicate the voices of actors like Freeman. During a recent interview on CBS Mornings, Freeman addressed concerns about his voice being used without his permission, stating simply, “I’ve got lawyers.” He further clarified that he would be open to allowing his voice to be replicated, provided he receives financial compensation. “I think that’s a different outlook on it. I remember that some years ago, an English company paid me handsomely to let someone in England who could sound like me do a thing for me,” Freeman explained, referencing a previous advertising campaign for the insurance company More Than, which utilized an impressionist.
Freeman’s voice has already been replicated for commercial purposes, most recently as the voice of Mark Zuckerberg’s AI assistant. He has also partnered with U.K.-based bread company Warburtons, joining a roster of celebrities including Robert De Niro, George Clooney, Sylvester Stallone, and Samuel L. Jackson who have previously appeared in the company’s advertisements. The Warburtons campaign features Freeman alongside Paddington Bear.
Produced by Amblin Documentaries and Silverback Films, “The Dinosaurs” focuses on the history of dinosaurs from their emergence in the Triassic period to their extinction during the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. The series aims to provide a comprehensive seem at the dinosaurs’ origins, evolution, ecological significance, and ultimate fate.