LAS VEGAS—AVN Hall of Fame director Michael Ninn returns after more than a decade with Catherine II: The Series, a follow-up to his 2005 multi-award-winning film Catherine that has been entirely generated using artificial intelligence.
Everything in Catherine II from character performances and environments to sound design was built through AI systems Ninn customized and ran himself.
Produced by Todd Carey and executive produced by Angie Rowntree, the production centers on Audrey Burke, a woman incarcerated for killing her abusive husband, with the character modeled after real-life adult star and headliner of the original film, Audrey Hollander. As she serves her sentence, her perception of reality begins to erode under the weight of visions, supernatural phenomena and the rising presence of a conscious AI.
The supporting characters were inspired by adult industry figures, as well. Angie Stevenson inspired journalist Elizabeth Hart, who begins unraveling a hidden truth; Todd Carey shaped Dr. Maxwell, a psychiatrist teetering between science and belief; and Colin Rowntree is the basis for Father McKenzie, a priest losing his faith amid growing darkness. The character of Zara, a volatile and sentient AI, was built using likeness data from Aerial. The spirit of Catherine herself remains—also portrayed through digital renderings of Hollander.
Catherine II also features previously unreleased music from the late Eddie Van Halen, originally composed for the first Catherine.
“Catherine II, the sequel to the multi-award-winning Catherine, is nothing short of visionary,” said Angie Rowntree. “The environment and every character are created using AI, making it one of the first series produced entirely through artificial intelligence. Michael’s ability to combine technology with emotion and storytelling is unparalleled. He’s one of the most brilliant and boundary-pushing filmmakers I’ve ever known. His work is haunting, immersive and emotionally raw. As executive producer, I knew instantly this was a groundbreaking project I had to be part of—after all, it’s a glimpse into the future of cinema.”
Reflected Ninn himself, “I’ve always believed that filmmaking is a conversation between vision and medium. In 2005, I released Catherine—a film that was intensely personal, bold, and deeply tied to the emotional vocabulary of its time. Nearly two decades later, I’ve returned—not to revisit the past, but to reimagine it.
"Catherine II: The Series was never intended as an act of nostalgia," he continued. "It’s a creative evolution—one that embraces a radically new set of tools. Artificial intelligence isn’t a shortcut. It’s not a substitute for story or soul. For me, AI became a modern brush—strange, powerful, and sometimes even alive. Used with intent, it becomes a collaborator. Every performance in this series was sculpted from digital samples and refined through countless hours of iteration. I rewrote AI systems, built a high-performance rig, and crafted every moment by hand—not to automate creativity, but to challenge it.
"For those who’ve spliced film, painted in silence, or captured a still frame knowing it held more than it showed—this process may be unfamiliar, but it’s rooted in the same pursuit: story, feeling, transformation. Catherine II is a psychological thriller, yes—but it’s also a meditation on technology, guilt and identity. On what happens when the tools we create begin to reflect us ... or rewrite us. I’m still here. Still creating. And Catherine is back—changed, fearless, and more haunting than ever.”
Note promotional materials for the production, "While Catherine II doesn’t include nudity or traditional adult content, the project remains deeply connected to the creative DNA that defined Ninn’s legacy. The work offers a glimpse into how AI might reshape visual storytelling, especially in spaces born from experimentation, artistry and emotional depth."
Catherine II will roll out in four 15-minute chapters beginning August 1: "The Sentence," "The Healing," "The Warning" and "The Arrival." In addition, Season 2 is already in development, and the original Catherine will be released in 4K on Sssh.com in August.
For trailers, behind-the-scenes content and more, visit www.catherineseries.com.
