I, ROBOT20th Century Fox Film Corp.
Prior to the weekend, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled new prototypes for robots, the much-anticipated self-driving robotaxi (Cybercab) and autonomous Robovan; but while the sleek edgeless designs may bring to mind his company’s signature look, discerning users on social media noticed another striking similarity — the futuristic mechanics that color filmmaker Alex Proyas‘ work in 2004’s Will Smith starrer I, Robot.
The uncanny resemblance didn’t go unnoticed — nor appreciated — by Proyas, who took to Musk’s own X platform to slam the executive for ripping off his creations.
“Hey Elon, Can I have my designs back please?” the Aussie director, who is also behind pics like 1994’s The Crow, wrote.
Set in Chicago in 2035, the Oscar-nominated blockbuster I, Robot delves into a world in which human-like androids fill public service positions, all operating under Isaac Asimov’s three laws of robotics first coined in his story collection that serves as the basis for the sci-fi flick. Also starring Bridget Moynahan and Alan Tudyk, the plot unfolds as Smith’s technologically averse detective character is called to investigate the suspicious suicide of a U.S. Robotics founder.
On Thursday, Musk led Tesla’s “We, Robot” event, held at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Calif., which had initially been scheduled for August but was pushed back to October following a need for tech modifications. While there, he unveiled his Optimus robots that at-first seemed to be unmanned, but were later revealed to be tele-operated by humans in real-time. While the highlight of the night was the unveiling of the Cybercab, with its wing-like doors and lack of steering wheel and pedals, Musk also revealed the Robovan, a glorified bus that self-drives and can transport goods and/or up to 20 people. Though the event was much-hyped on the online thoroughfares, it led to a significant stock drop, signaling disappointment from investors.
Proyas will soon be in Sydney, Australia filming his forthcoming sci-fi satire film R.U.R. beginning Oct. 21.
It’s not the first time that a Tesla product has shown marked similarities to a design from a film set in the future. In 2019, the Cybertruck was compared by some to a sleek steel car from Paul Veerhoven’s Total Recall.
