Fact Check: Is viral clip of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting real?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In mid-February, a clip went viral across social media platforms where Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt were seen in an intense fight from a movie scene.

The 15-minute clip, which was posted on X, showed the two A-listers exchanging blows with each other, and people thought it was a leaked scene from some upcoming film. But is there any truth to this clip? Let us find out below.

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt's fight clip goes viral

The 15-second viral fight scene clip featuring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt has taken social media by storm, captivating millions with its intense, high-stakes action.

The fight scene is set against a dramatic rooftop backdrop under stormy skies, showing the two Hollywood icons locked in a brutal hand-to-hand brawl.

Moreover, punches fly with raw power, bodies slam against railings, and the camera captures gritty details, from sweat-glistened faces to the sheer physicality of their confrontation, making it feel like a leaked scene from a major blockbuster thriller.

The viral clip's explosive spread online has sparked widespread reactions across Hollywood and beyond. Several industry figures have also weighed in with a mix of awe and alarm.

Fact Check: The clip was generated using AI

Interestingly, the viral clip of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting is not from any movie, but it was created using artificial intelligence by Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson, who was Oscar-nominated for a short film in 2002.

He shared the clip on X and wrote, "This was a 2 line prompt in seedance 2. If the hollywood is cooked guys are right maybe the hollywood is cooked guys are cooked too idk."

Moreover, Hollywood's screenwriter Rhett Reese, known for his work in Deadpool and Wolverine, also shared the clip and mentioned, "I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us."

However, when a fan said the video still 'looks like s**t', Reese replied, "In next to no time, one person is going to be able to sit at a computer and create a movie indistinguishable from what Hollywood now releases. True, if that person is no good, it will suck. But if that person possesses Christopher Nolan’s talent and taste (and someone like that will rapidly come along), it will be tremendous."

Motion Pictures Association (MPA) called on ByteDance, Seedance's parent company, to curb its 'infringement' of copyrighted works.

Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the MPA, said, "In a single day, the Chinese AI service Seedance 2.0 has engaged in unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale. By launching a service that operates without meaningful safeguards against infringement, ByteDance is disregarding well-established copyright law that protects the rights of creators and underpins millions of American jobs. ByteDance should immediately cease its infringing activity."

Similarly, the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA likewise condemned Bytedance, saying, "The infringement includes the unauthorized use of our members’ voices and likenesses. This is unacceptable and undercuts the ability of human talent to earn a livelihood. Seedance 2.0 disregards law, ethics, industry standards, and basic principles of consent. Responsible A.I. development demands responsibility, and that is nonexistent here."