Bruce Willis has retired from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, but another version of him will live on in future projects.
Last year, the actor’s “digital twin” appeared in an ad for a Russian telecommunications company made by a company called Deepcake.
It has now sold the rights to future films, advertisements and other projects to Deepcake, according to the company’s website and The Telegraph.
Engineers created a digital double from Willis’ 32-year-old Die Hard and 42-year-old The Fifth Element content.
With his image on the company’s AI platform, it can be grafted onto another actor’s face in a relatively short amount of time. However, final approval for any project rests with Willis’ family.
In the Megafon advertisement, Willis’ face was changed to that of actor Konstantin Solovyov. I liked the “accuracy of character”. Willis said of Deepcake, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to go back in time.”
With the advent of modern technology, I can communicate, work, and participate in filming even if I’m on another continent. I made it. It was a new and interesting experience for me and I am grateful to the team. ”
In March, Willis’ family announced that he was retiring from acting following a diagnosis of aphasia, which impairs communication and comprehension. In recent years, the 67-year-old actor has starred in a number of projects amid concerns about his cognitive status.
Actors have already appeared in digital form, most notably a young Mark Hamill in The Book of Boba Fett. Also, in Star Wars: Rogue One, the deceased Carrie Fisher and Peter Cushing appeared in digital versions. James Earl Jones recently sold the rights to recreate his voice with his AI to Disney so he could retire.
This approach has been controversial. The quality of deepfakes varies widely, but many come close to the uncanny valley where the characters don’t look quite right, such as stiff movement or dead eyes.
There is also the issue of rights, as a deceased actor cannot refuse to appear in films after his death, even if his family and estate allow it.
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