Gaming is interactive. Movies are passive activities. When it comes to quietly watching a film, people are going to want to see actors they recognize.
And some actors are timeless. Even though they haven't made a movie in decades, you could show a photo of John Wayne or Marilyn Monroe to almost any grade schooler and they'll know who they are.
“...people are going to want to see actors they recognize.”
You’re looking backwards. Do you think that they cannot conjure up a new virtual star? When people see that new, fake AI star in 20 or 30 films, what keeps that star from being as big as John Wayne, Tom Cruise, or Merrily Monroe?
In 50 or 100 years, nobody will recognize those old real-people stars except in “classic films.” In fact, there will probably come a time when people don’t even want to see real people acting.
“you could show a photo of John Wayne or Marilyn Monroe to almost any grade schooler and they’ll know who they are.”
??Not 1 in 100 would have any clue who they are.