Neighbours is being recut into a microdrama focused on Margot Robbie – and her co-stars aren’t happy

Neighbours recut into microdrama focused on Margot Robbie, sparking concerns among cast members

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The long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours is being recut with AI into a microdrama designed to be watched on phones, according to The Guardian — Technology. The project, led by RoseBerry Media, will repurpose original episodes of Neighbours for distribution on its Epis platform, using an AI-assisted production tool called RedSnapper. The microdrama will initially focus on Margot Robbie's character, Donna Freedman, who she played from 2008 to 2011.

Two of Robbie's storylines will be recut into vertical micro-episodes, creating about 150 minutes of content. Neighbours star Stefan Dennis has voiced concerns over the project, telling the Herald Sun that it is

morally and legally wrong

and

unbelievably invasive

.

Former Neighbours cast member Matthew Werkmeister, who played Zeke Kinski from 2005 to 2011, has also expressed concerns. Werkmeister said he only learned about the deal when he was approached for comment and had received no notification from Neighbours producer Fremantle or RoseBerry Media regarding whether residuals would be paid to actors in the vertical series.

Werkmeister dismissed claims that the vertical format would introduce the classic soap to younger audiences and called the venture a

money grab for Fremantle

. He also questioned whether the producers had reached out to Robbie, citing her star power as a main motivator for the project.