A new Netflix film has raised eyebrows with a scene that appears to criticize Tesla’s self-driving technology. The movie, titled “Leave the World Behind,” features a scene where a line of self-driving Teslas crashes into each other, nearly injuring the film’s protagonists played by Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke.
The scene, which lasts for two minutes, shows Roberts’ character approaching a cluster of damaged white Teslas. As she examines one of the vehicles, the camera zooms in on a placard proclaiming its “Full Self-Driving Capability” feature. Ominous music plays in the background, creating a sense of foreboding.
Meanwhile, Hawke’s character and their children wait anxiously in a non-Tesla vehicle. He spots another car approaching and attempts to flag it down, only to realize it’s another Tesla heading straight for the pileup at full speed.
This scene has sparked discussion about the safety and reliability of Tesla’s self-driving technology. Notably, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly claimed that the company will achieve true full self-driving capability within the next year, yet these promises have been made annually since 2014.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, director Sam Esmail revealed that he did not seek permission from Tesla to include the scene in the film. He explained that he wrote the scene in the script and instructed the props department to acquire a number of Teslas for the filming. He then edited the scene into the film and presented it to Netflix, hoping that it would go unnoticed by Tesla.
RUN JULIA ROBERTS RUNNNNN
Leave the World Behind is now on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/0C1WgAmLpf
— Netflix (@netflix) December 8, 2023
“Leave the World Behind” also features actors Kevin Bacon and Mahershala Ali. The film’s release comes amidst increasing scrutiny of Tesla’s self-driving technology, with several accidents and incidents attributed to the system being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
It remains to be seen whether Tesla will take any action in response to the scene in “Leave the World Behind.” However, the inclusion of this scene in a major Hollywood film undoubtedly contributes to the growing public debate surrounding the safety and ethics of self-driving technology.