Jeremy Renner has taken legal action against a filmmaker amid a growing dispute over an AI-related movie project. According to reports, the Hawkeye actor has threatened to sue director Yi Zhou for millions. He accuses her of defamation and unauthorized use of his name and voice.
Jeremy Renner threatens to sue Yi Zhou with a cease and desist letter
Jeremy Renner has issued a cease-and-desist letter to director Yi Zhou, demanding that she stop using his name, likeness, or voice in any project outside the Disney documentary he participated in. The letter, dated November 7, 2025, and obtained by Deadline, was sent by his attorney John H. Lavely Jr. of Lavely & Singer.
It accuses Zhou of “spreading salacious lies” and warns of “multi-millions of dollars in liability” for defamation and misappropriation. The document also claims that Zhou “aggressively” pursued a relationship with Renner.
According to Deadline, Renner’s legal team claims Zhou used his voice in the AI-animated project Stardust Futures: Stars and Scars without authorization. Lavely’s letter states that Renner “has no knowledge of and did not willingly participate in any AI generated animation or other project.” It adds that his only involvement was with the Disney documentary Masters of Cinema 2: Chronicles of Disney
Zhou disputes the allegations, saying Renner “fully agreed in writing” to narrate Stardust Futures. She claims he signed a September 15 Talent Release Form covering “all promotional, derivative, or related works.” Zhou asserts that the film uses Renner’s real voice and states that AI cannot replicate a person’s voice without consent.
Zhou also alleges a “conflict of interest” with Lavely & Singer, claiming the firm once represented her in a previous case. She later sent her own cease-and-desist letter to Renner on October 29. In it, she warned that she would seek “injunctive relief, monetary damages, and legal fees.”
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.
The post Jeremy Renner Sends Cease & Desist Letter To AI Movie Director appeared first on Mandatory.
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