Plans to rework old episodes of Neighbours into a microdrama built around Margot Robbie have drawn criticism from some of her former co-stars, according to reporting by The New York Times and The Guardian. The project would recut existing footage from the Australian soap, where Robbie appeared early in her career, into a short-form format.
The Guardian reports that the recut will focus on Robbie, and that her former co-stars are unhappy with the plan. The Times of India reports that the episodes are to receive an AI treatment, and that former cast member Matthew Werkmeister has criticised the project. Stefan Dennis, another Neighbours alum, described it as "morally and legally wrong," according to the same report.
The debate sits at the intersection of two trends: the rise of microdrama, a short-episode format, and the growing use of AI tools to reshape existing footage. The reporting does not detail how the AI is being applied or who is behind the project.
What remains unclear is how the production will proceed given the objections raised by former cast members, and whether the dispute will affect the planned release.
