Sunny Hostin Is Breaking Ranks With The View Cohosts by Signing a Deal That Lets AI Replicate Her Likeness for the Screen
‘A new art form.’
Sunny Hostin is officially stepping into the future of entertainment by signing a deal that allows an artificial intelligence company to replicate her likeness for the screen. According to Entertainment Weekly, the move marks a significant departure from the stance held by her cohosts on The View, who have been notably vocal about their skepticism and outright opposition toward the rapid integration of AI in the film and television industry.
The announcement, which dropped on August 27, 2026, identifies Hostin as the first major personality to partner with Fountain 0. The company plans to use this partnership to develop and produce various films while utilizing their proprietary software and virtual production studio. By doing so, they aim to drop production costs to nominal levels while still maintaining high quality. It is a bold move, and it certainly puts Hostin in a unique position.
Fountain 0 is the same studio behind the fully AI-generated film Dreams of Violets, which made a splash at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year. Their strategy involves licensing the images of well-known influencers and personalities to represent characters in upcoming projects. The company believes that combining recognizable faces with social media relevance is a winning formula for marketing.
Fountain 0 says this helps fans connect with projects that feature stars they know
Hostin is clearly excited about the creative potential here. In her official statement, she noted that she is thrilled to be part of a movement that allows writers and directors to unleash their imaginations without being tethered to traditional budgetary constraints. She went on to say, “I am excited to be able to help pioneer a new art form which can open up new dimensions for how public personalities can engage with audiences.”
One of the most interesting aspects of this deal is how it relates to her own creative work. Hostin, who is also a published author, plans to use this technology to adapt her own books.
Referencing titles like Summer on Highland Beach, The View co-host explained that being able to bring her novels to life in movie and TV form, while having her own image inserted into the productions, is an incredibly exciting prospect. She wants audiences to relate to her through her stories in a way that goes beyond her standard role as an author or television personality.
Beyond her own projects, Hostin sees a social utility in this technology. She expressed a strong belief that Hollywood has historically focused too little on the lives of diverse audiences. She feels that Fountain 0’s AI productions can have a major impact on responding to the interests of these underserved groups. By using AI to lower the barrier to entry for filmmaking, she hopes to bring stories to the big screen that might otherwise be ignored by traditional studios.
This decision stands in stark contrast to the views expressed by Hostin’s co-hosts
Whoopi Goldberg, in particular, has been one of the most prominent voices against the adoption of AI in the entertainment sector. Goldberg has been very clear about her discomfort with being pressured to adopt new technology before she is ready.
During a broadcast in June, she pushed back against the idea that everyone in Hollywood needs to embrace the shift. She made it clear that she prefers to understand the tools she uses, comparing the current AI rush to the introduction of the horseless carriage. She emphasized that she doesn’t want to be pushed into a corner by those who want everyone to get on board with these advancements immediately.
Goldberg’s stance is long-standing and firm. She previously made waves in 2023 when she criticized the Amazon Alexa device during a live show and revealed that her own will explicitly forbids the licensing of her likeness to create a hologram after she passes away.
She has even challenged other stars, including her Ghost costar Demi Moore, for their willingness to advocate for AI integration. When Moore suggested at Cannes in May that fighting the rise of AI in Hollywood is a battle that will ultimately be lost, Goldberg was quick to voice her dissent on air.
The industry at large seems split on this issue
While many artists are pushing back hard against the technology, others are experimenting with it in various ways. For instance, Sir Michael Caine recently licensed his voice for an audiobook version of The Odyssey. Additionally, the family of the late actor Val Kilmer has licensed his likeness for a significant role in the upcoming film As Deep as the Grave.
According to Mediaite, Fountain 0 CEO Ash Koosha acknowledged that this is new territory for major talent. However, he expressed that the company is gratified to have Hostin on board to help navigate these uncharted waters. As this technology continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how the public reacts to seeing familiar faces in roles generated by AI.
Hostin appears confident that this generational innovation in filmmaking is the right path forward, even if it puts her at odds with the consensus of her peers. Whether this leads to a new era of diverse, cost-effective storytelling or creates further friction within the industry remains to be seen.
(Featured image: Disney)
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