Ryan Reynolds Teams Up With the Real Tilly Norwood in Mint Mobile’s AI-Inspired Ad

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Oct 30

Natalie “Tilly” Norwood and Ryan Reynolds Mint Mobile

After an AI-generated actress sparked backlash, Reynolds brings a real Tilly Norwood on-screen — reminding Hollywood that humanity still sells.

Ryan Reynolds has turned the internet’s strangest casting controversy into his latest marketing moment.

The Deadpool & Wolverine star appears alongside Natalie “Tilly” Norwood — a real human actress — in a new Mint Mobile ad poking fun at the viral uproar surrounding her AI-generated counterpart.

The campaign, which promotes Mint Mobile’s new 5G Home Internet service, leans directly into the recent online debate over AI performers. “Everything about Mint Mobile seems unreal,” Reynolds quips at the start of the spot, before introducing Norwood as “a real Mint Mobile customer.” Turning to her, he asks, “You are real, right?”

“Yup,” Norwood replies.

“Not an AI-generated combination of actors?” Reynolds continues.

“I’m a combination of my parents,” she deadpans — a line that lands with classic Reynolds irony.

The ad arrives just weeks after headlines broke about an AI-generated “actress” named Tilly Norwood, whose digital likeness had reportedly been pitched to real Hollywood talent agencies for representation. The backlash was immediate. Actors, writers, and industry voices condemned the creation as an alarming sign of how quickly synthetic performers could begin replacing human ones.

SAG-AFTRA issued a statement in response, emphasizing that “creativity is, and should remain, human-centered,” and calling out the use of AI models trained “on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation.” The union’s warning underscored what many already fear: a looming identity crisis for entertainment as technology blurs the line between artistry and algorithm.

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Reynolds, who has built a brand empire by turning controversy into clever advertising, has now done it again. The Mint Mobile spot doubles as both self-aware satire and a subtle industry statement: AI may be efficient, but personality is irreplaceable.

Created by Deadpool-level marketing minds at Maximum Effort — Reynolds’ own agency — the ad reflects the actor’s signature tone: meta, mischievous, and deeply attuned to internet culture. It’s not the first time Reynolds has leveraged viral discourse for brand storytelling. Previous Mint Mobile campaigns have spoofed everything from celebrity endorsements to corporate jargon.

Here, the punchline isn’t just about AI; it’s about authenticity. By casting the real Tilly Norwood — who shares a name with her digital counterpart — the ad turns a dystopian tech story into a witty human moment. The result is quintessential Reynolds: part commercial, part commentary, and entirely self-aware.

As the entertainment industry continues grappling with the ethical, creative, and contractual implications of AI-generated performers, this campaign lands as both parody and protest. It’s funny, but it’s also pointed — a reminder that even in a synthetic age, humanity still connects.