The night before Christmas, it’s time to make a snowman. However, the participants in this activity are not just elementary school students. The camera pans to Harry, Hermione, and Ron, the brightest of Hogwarts. That’s not all.
Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Kevin McCallister (Home Alone star-maker Macauley Culkin) will also appear. A muscle car speeds down the lane, and inside is John Wick, played by Keanu Reeves. After some sick jokes, he’s replaced by Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel from the Fast and Furious series. Our scene ends with everyone riding shotgun with Diesel, drinking Corona bottles and driving into the winter night.
This isn’t some unprecedented multi-world sequel designed to make $1 billion at the box office. It was a scene created by AI and widely spread on the internet almost a month ago. For some, it demonstrated the novelty of AI tools and how they can mash together beloved characters. For other companies, especially the industry, it has demonstrated that the battle to protect intellectual property will continue as technology advances much faster than policy.
In an initial interview, the clip’s creator, Andriy Daniels, estimated that around 5 million people watched the two-part fantasy, titled “Harry Potter and the Christmas Trap,” on Instagram alone. His recent work has been viewed approximately 17 million times across platforms, including X, according to data he shared with Variety.
What viewers didn’t see was the 40 hours Daniels spent working on the project in a bomb shelter during the 2025 missile attack in Kiev. Since 2022, the Ukrainian film director has been making what he calls a “fan tribute” with a bang. His work had never reached the audience it had during his most recent vacation. Daniels requested an email interview because he does not speak English (although Variety confirmed his identity via Zoom). Here we discuss his work as an escape from the horrors of war and the surprising reach of “The Christmas Trap.”
AI film director Andri Daniels
Made with Google AI
How did you get started in the world of entertainment and media?
I have always had two passions. It’s movies and writing. The film industry is notoriously difficult to break into, so I decided to pursue writing instead. I started freelancing and found work at OK! Magazines, Radar Online, and other publications. As AI evolves, the demand for freelance writing services has decreased significantly. But instead of giving up and blaming AI for taking my job, I decided to master the tools myself. When I started, my sister was already well-versed in AI technology, so she helped me eliminate “information overload” in the AI environment in just a few weeks. When using AI, you need to know exactly which tools will and won’t work for your specific goals.
What drew you to film?
I grew up captivated by the magic of big screen movies. I’ve been researching and analyzing film for years, but as an independent creator I was limited by the “physicality” of traditional production. Things changed in the summer of 2025. I started experimenting with generative AI tools and realized it was a new kind of lens. For the first time, he was able to direct scenes that previously would have been impossible without a multi-million dollar studio budget. Thanks to AI, my technical skills in cinematography can finally catch up to the scale of my imagination. Traditional high production costs are a barrier to entry for independent creators. What I love most about AI filmmaking is that it’s democratized.
Did you expect your Christmas clip to be such a hit?
To be honest, I didn’t expect it to reach 1 million. My videos usually average around 2,000 views. There were moments when I felt really discouraged and asked myself, “Why am I doing this?” Imagine my surprise when my video got 500,000 views in one night. When I woke up and saw the numbers, I couldn’t believe my eyes. This viral moment taught me that creative success doesn’t come from the first try. That said, don’t give up when it seems like no one is seeing your content. For me, this project was a tribute to innovative fans, a way to explore how these different worlds collide in a festive and unexpected setting, and a Christmas present to movie lovers like me by imagining this strange, multi-world character mash-up.
How long did it take you to complete that clip?
This project took approximately 40 hours of intensive work from initial concept to final export. But these times represented much more than just a production timeline. I live in Ukraine, and filmmaking has become an important sanctuary for me. In the face of constant missile attacks, drone noise, and power outages lasting 12 to 18 hours a day, immersion in this digital world is my way of escaping the horrors of war. Orchestrating AI movie scenes can help you regain a sense of control and beauty, even when the outside world feels like the opposite. This is part of our collective resilience here in Ukraine. Millions of Ukrainians are learning to find solace in their work and passions even when their lives are on the line.
Did you write the script copy, stage directions, and jokes yourself, or did AI software generate those elements?
Every word in the script, every joke, and every beat in the stage direction came directly from me. I’ve had this particular concept in my head for a long time, long before AI tools existed. I’ve always been fascinated by how these different cinematic worlds collide when forced into the same room. For years it was just an idea on my notebook. By using AI tools, I was finally able to bridge the gap between my imagination and the screen.
There’s a lot of talk in Hollywood right now about AI and copyright infringement, but were you worried about making this film that features characters with so much intellectual property?
I’m aware of those conversations and have deep respect for the studios and creators who built these worlds. My intentions were always clear, so I wasn’t nervous in the traditional sense. This is a transformative work of parody and social commentary.
It is clearly not a replacement in the market. No one would watch a two-minute festive parody instead of an original feature film. It exists as a separate artistic commentary. I have deep respect for the copyright holders, which is why I have included a clear disclaimer that this is a 100% independent, non-commercial fan project.
The world of law has a long history of creating homages to fan-favorite stories. I consider my films to be a modern evolution of that tradition. Especially given my current situation in Ukraine, working on this piece for 40 hours during power outages and air raid warnings was a way to find sanctuary in the stories that have shaped my life. It was a labor of love and was meant to celebrate these icons, not compete with them.
Talk about your reaction to the clip, both good and bad.
This response was an interesting indication of how audiences perceive AI filmmaking at the moment. The good thing was that you could see the audience getting into the script and the humor. It was incredibly rewarding to see the worldwide response to my particular stage direction and script. I spent three days in a row sorting through my DMs. I feel like I finally understand what content creators with thousands of followers are going through right now. Beyond the praise, what surprised me the most was how many people reached out to me asking for my AI courses and tutorials.
There is also a fair share of inevitable skepticism surrounding AI technology. Some commenters are calling this “AI slop.” This is a term used to describe low-effort, mass-produced AI visuals. I don’t take negative comments personally, as all innovative technology in movies has been labeled similarly.
Have you heard from any studios or content owners involved with the characters you used?
No, we were not contacted directly by the studio or the intellectual property owner. In the creative industry, high-quality fan tributes are a testament to the lasting cultural impact of these series. I think the industry in general understands the value of fan engagement. Especially when it comes to engaging with fans with the level of respect and transparency that I included in my disclaimer.
Should Hollywood embrace works like yours that connect and celebrate characters from different worlds?
I believe there is a huge opportunity for the industry to explore the spirit of innovation that AI tools offer. My work is not meant to replace the large-scale, coordinated efforts of major studios. It is an exploration that transforms what is possible. The industry may embrace this as a new form of cultural engagement. My work is not a challenge to Hollywood’s business model. It’s a supportive signal because it shows exactly what excites fans.
