SAG-AFTRA Strikes Back: Union Files Charges Over AI Darth Vader Voice in Fortnite

In the virtual sprawl of Fortnite’s latest update, players huddled in the shadows of a crumbling starship, lightsabers at the ready. When Darth Vader emerged from the smoke, his unmistakable voice—deep, resonant, immortal—shook the game’s digital landscape.

“You don’t know the power of the dark side.”

It was James Earl Jones. Or… something that sounded like him.

Llama Productions, the company behind the game, had proudly announced the new interactive Vader boss, complete with voice-chat responses. Players marveled. The internet buzzed. But behind the scenes, SAG-AFTRA stirred.

The union filed charges, claiming the AI-generated voice replicated Jones’ performance without negotiating with the very actors whose livelihoods were being phased out by code.

“This isn’t just about Vader,” said union rep Clarissa Deen. “It’s about every voice silenced by silicon.”

Lucasfilm had once secured Jones’ blessing to digitally preserve Vader’s voice—but this?

This was different. This was Fortnite. Posthumous. Profitable.

James Earl Jones’ family had offered support, saying he wanted the voice to live on. But for many, the line between legacy and labor exploitation had been crossed.

As Epic Games stood by their innovation, unions stood by their performers.

A single line echoed across the industry:

“If AI can be Vader today, who’s next tomorrow?”

The battle wasn’t just in the game anymore.