9,300 episodes of Neighbours set for AI edit

The Australian soap opera Neighbours ended its run last year after nearly four decades of broadcast television. Now, former cast and crew members are questioning a new plan to repurpose the show's vast archive for mobile screens.

Fremantle, the series producer, has partnered with US-based RoseBerry Media to create short, vertical videos using artificial intelligence. The companies state the AI will scan the library of more than 9,300 episodes to map character arcs and identify standout moments. This process allows editors to quickly locate strong material without manually reviewing hours of tape.

The first project will focus on footage featuring Margot Robbie, who played Donna Freedman from 2008 to 2011. Robbie has not issued a public statement on the plan, though her agency has been contacted for a response. The initiative aims to introduce the program to new audiences through a format designed for smartphone viewing.

Some former actors say they have not agreed to have their images and voices reused in this specific way. Matt Werkmeister, who played Zeke Kinski from 2005 to 2007, is likely to appear in the new cuts because his character shared many scenes with Robbie's. Werkmeister, now a producer in Melbourne, said no one from the production team has contacted him. "If they're creating a new micro-drama out of something that already exists, I feel there needs to be consent for using our image and voice as well as the writers," he said. He noted that streaming platforms did not exist when he signed his contract 20 years ago, leaving him unsure of his current rights.

Sam Clark, who played Ringo Brown from 2006 to 2010, learned about the project from a friend. Clark, now a producer in Los Angeles, said he does not object to the old work gaining a second life as long as it is not manipulated into new storylines. He is currently reviewing his contract to understand what it permits. A Fremantle spokesman stated that the new episodes will use original, previously broadcast footage and dialogue. He confirmed that the process does not generate new scenes, alter actors' faces, or use synthetic voices, and that a human editor will review and approve every stage of the production.

Sound recordist Bruce Findlay, who worked on the show from episode one, described the use of AI to build short episodes as "cutting up a Picasso and rebuilding it." Findlay, 68, said the approach "belittles the process" of creating the original television drama. Guy Hameiri, head of RoseBerry Media, called the project "premium vertical television." He said the company intends to give the material "new audiences, new relevance and new value." Jens Richter, who leads Fremantle's commercial and international arm, described the collaboration as an exciting example of how technology can unlock new value from the company's catalogue.

Fremantle is currently in talks with two unions regarding the project. Residuals, the ongoing payments made to actors and writers when work is re-aired, will be paid to those covered by the agreements. These payments do not extend to crew members. Adam Portelli, acting CEO of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, confirmed the discussions. Portelli said workers "should be consulted before their likeness or expertise is used in a way they could never had envisioned when they signed contracts decades ago."