Higgsfield debuts AI film with N3on and UFC stars' likenesses

AI startup Higgsfield has debuted "Cully Hill Boys," a 110-minute action-comedy film built entirely with generative AI that features licensed digital likenesses of Kick streamer N3on, UFC fighter Israel Adesanya, actor and fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, and basketball creator Matt Kiatipis.

The project premiered August 5 at the Glasshouse in New York City. It is not intended as a traditional theatrical or streaming release. Instead, Higgsfield is using the film to demonstrate its Cinema Studio platform to potential Hollywood studio partners and to test how public figures can license and monetize their digital personas for AI productions.

According to Variety, the film aims to be the first fully AI-generated feature with legally licensed celebrity likenesses. It was directed by Aitore Zholdaskali, who previously helmed Higgsfield's earlier AI feature "Hell Grind," and written by Tim Planagan. Higgsfield acquired Planagan's screenplay through the Black List service. The story is set in East London and centers on a group of mobsters.

Production details shared by attendees and company associates indicate the film was completed in roughly four weeks by a 28-person team. That group generated about 1,000 finished assets across 100 locations, with nine directors working in parallel rather than through a traditional studio hierarchy.

N3on, whose real name is Mikyle Rafiq, told Variety he was "really, really excited" about the opportunity. His team presented the project among other options. Creating his AI likeness required only a two-minute voice recording and some photos.

"I'm streaming every day, so me trying to act in a movie and wake up at 6 a.m. and do all these things and come every day, it's just unrealistic," Rafiq said. "So this is a way to do it without having to do anything really."

He described the compensation as a "pretty good check with very little work" and said the project fit his interest in the technology. Rafiq, who has roughly 1.1 million YouTube subscribers and about 700,000 on Kick, noted that fans already use AI tools to place him in unusual scenarios. He plans to promote the film on his streams and remains open to future AI projects if audience response is positive.

"I really want to continue doing stuff like this in the future," he said. "I really want to see how everyone comes together and sees and just to see what people think about it."

Planagan told Variety he was honored the screenplay was chosen to showcase the platform. He said Higgsfield respected the original script after traditional producers had sought changes he was unwilling to make. His deal with the company was limited to AI adaptations and paid rates he described as on par with Writers Guild of America scales, though he is not a guild member. He has not yet seen the finished film but expressed interest in similar future adaptations.

Higgsfield previously drew attention with "Hell Grind," a fully AI-generated feature that screened at Cannes. Cinema Studio is the company's professional AI filmmaking environment, offering video generation, camera controls, reusable characters and locations, and collaborative tools. The company hopes studios will adopt the platform for experimentation with AI workflows.

The premiere drew the likenesses' real-world counterparts, including N3on, who reportedly livestreamed from the event, along with Higgsfield leadership such as CEO Alex Mashrabov. The project highlights an emerging path for streamers, athletes and creators to earn from their digital images without traditional on-set demands.