15 actors and personalities who were resurrected with AI

Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and one of the most impacted areas is the creation of realistic images and videos. With the use of Artificial Intelligence, CGI and deepfake, it is now possible to create characters indistinguishable from real people and this is ushering in a new era of entertainment, in which dead celebrities can be brought back to life to star in new movies and TV shows. Next, we are going to discover the main cases of actors and personalities that were resurrected with AI and what are the main ethical controversies that this has caused.

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The controversial Volkswagen commercial with Elis Regina

Recently, and empresa Volkswagen released a new advertisement for the limited edition ID.Buzz, its new electric Kombi. In it, singer Maria Rita performed an impossible duet with her late mother, Elis Regina, in a campaign celebrating the brand's 70th anniversary in Brazil, comparing classic and current car models.

Many people on the internet loved the tribute and thought the advertisement was creative. However, some groups were completely against the use of Elis Regina's images because they considered it a lack of respect for the singer who, for obvious reasons, did not have consent to participate in the brand's publicity action. Meanwhile, the National Advertising Self-Regulation Council, conar, filed an ethical lawsuit against the Volkswagen e AlmapBBDO, advertising agency responsible for the action, to assess whether or not it is right to “revive” a dead person through technology in an advertisement.

The whistleblowers were not revealed by the body in respect of the General Data Protection Law, but the accusation is that there was a lack of ethics when the company used technological tools and AI to bring people back to life.

The ethical issues of this use of Artificial Intelligence

The use of technology and Artificial Intelligence to resurrect actors and famous people in movies, shows and advertisements raises a series of ethical questions that are debated on the internet and in the legal environment. People who have passed away cannot consent to the use of their images or voices, and it is important to consider the possible negative effects this could have on their loved ones.

In addition, the technology can also be used to create deepfake: Videos or audio manipulated to make it sound like someone says or does something they've never said or done, which can be used for malicious purposes, such as spreading misinformation or defamation. It is therefore important to develop measures to ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly.

Artificial intelligence can also be used to create images or videos of people who have passed away for commercial purposes, as shown above. For example, a company could use AI to create a video of a deceased actor promoting their product. This raises questions about using images of people who have passed away for profit.

Regarding the legal aspects, the use of the image of a deceased person for commercial purposes can generate a lot of discussion. In the case of unauthorized use by any heir or the holder himself in life, the relevant legislation on the subject allows the heirs to carry out acts to stop using the image of the deceased artist, even if this use is not derogatory to the image. of the deceased.

Gustavo Finotti dos Reis Nunes – Lawyer

In addition to the aforementioned ethical and profit issues, using AI to resurrect actors and celebrities could also raise legal issues. For example, it is possible that the heirs of a person who has passed away could claim copyright on AI-created images or videos of their image. It's also possible that people who have passed away could be considered "actors" in AI-created movies or TV shows, and that they could be entitled to compensation for their work.

Once the image is used with the permission of the heirs, there are precautions to be taken. In the first place, verify whether or not the use of the image stains the legacy left by the deceased and his image. Secondly, an eventual decision in life of the deceased regarding the use of his image and its limits in the will must be respected; even if such use is contrary to the commercial interests of the heirs.

Gustavo Finotti dos Reis Nunes – Lawyer

How are celebrities resurrected?

The recreation of celebrities in movies, concerts and advertisements using technology is known as "digital recreation" or "digital resuscitation". This technique involves using advanced computer graphics and visual effects technologies to bring artists who have passed away or aged significantly back to life. This technique is not so new, although its use has become popular due to the considerable increase in the quality of these recreations.

The artist's existing images and videos are used, with additional references, to create a highly detailed and realistic digital model of the subject's face. That model is then animated to mimic the original artist's movements and facial expressions. This technique is known as “performance capture” and involves using actors or stunt doubles to provide the necessary movements and expressions in most cases.

the main cases

Next, we will list the main use cases of technology to resurrect celebrities in movies, series, shows and commercials. On several occasions there was legal authorization for use, however we have some controversies on this list that have caused discussions and legal proceedings.

Anthony Bourdain

Starting with one of the most controversial recent cases, Anthony Bourdain was a renowned chef, writer and TV presenter in the United States. Bourdain gained fame and recognition as the restaurant's executive chef. Les Halles, in New York. However, he became best known for his appearance on television shows related to food and travel. His most famous program, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, aired from 2005 to 2012 and explored the cuisine and culture of different countries around the world. Bourdain also presented Parts Unknown, which premiered in 2013 and continued until his death.

The personality was brought back to life through the recreation of his voice to narrate excerpts from the documentary Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, which told about his career and history. The AI-generated voice was fed hundreds of hours of chef-talk content available through his programs. The production was criticized for the recreation, however it countered claiming that they received authorization from the family and the content spoken by the voice generated by AI was written by Bourdain himself before he passed away.

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn was a renowned Belgian-British actress and icon. She began her career as a ballerina, but gained international fame as a film actress and is best known for her roles in classic films such as Luxury doll, Sabrina e Cinderella in Paris. Her graceful beauty, natural elegance and acting talent have made her one of Hollywood's most popular and beloved stars.

The actress, who died in 1993, reappeared in a campaign for a US chocolate brand called Dove 20 years after her death. According to The Verge, a stuntwoman with physical similarities to actress Hepburn was used to create the video. Using a facial action coding system, her face was scanned, capturing the muscle movements and textures needed to build a more authentic portrait. The production team then worked to further enhance the actress's face, smoothing out transitions and expressions for animation.

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee is considered one of the most influential and iconic figures in the history of martial arts and action cinema. He pioneered his approach to martial arts, developing his own style called Jeet Kune Do. His philosophy was based on efficiency, speed and adaptation, combining different fighting techniques to create a unique approach. In addition to his fighting and acting skills, Bruce Lee was also known for his philosophical ideas on self-discipline, self-improvement, and harmony between mind and body. He left a lasting legacy, influencing later generations of martial artists, actors and martial arts enthusiasts.

The artist, who died in 1973, appeared in a commercial 40 years after the whiskey brand Johnnie Walker. The advertisement was met with controversy, mainly due to the fact that the actor is a teetotaler, that is, a person who does not drink or drinks alcohol very little. The video recovers some of Bruce Lee's iconic lines in interviews and uses computer graphics to recreate the body and face and was assisted by Shannon Lee, his daughter.

Chespirito (Roberto Bolanos)

Roberto Gómez Bolaños, better known as Chespirito, was the renowned Mexican comedian, actor and writer who became popularly known for Chaves and The Red Grasshopper. These programs have become incredibly admired in Latin America and have achieved international success.

Eight years after his death, a streaming called Dish used technology deepfake to revive the actor in the role of Chaves in a commercial, which caused controversy on the part of fans for the use of the character's image. The company DishLatino revealed that it digitally recreated Bolaños' face in a process that took 41 days to complete.

Christopher Reeve

The iconic Superman, Christopher Reeve was a renowned actor from the United States who played the role of the world's most famous superhero in the 1970s and 1980s. Reeve became widely associated with the character due to his charismatic and convincing performance. He brought a strong presence and heroic quality to the role, becoming a symbol for many fans and starred in films such as Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman III e Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

Being one of the most recent cases on our list, the actor was revived in the film T 2023, at a time when the film shows the other existing universes and pays homage to classic films inspired by heroes of DC Comics. Among these appearances was Superman Christopher Reeve. Much criticism was made as fans claimed that they could have just used footage from the old films instead of recreating the actor through deepfake, which was compounded by the poor public reception to the Flash movie's special effects and computer graphics.

Elis the Queen

Finally, we arrive at the controversy responsible for rekindling this discussion. Elis Regina is considered one of the greatest interpreters of Brazilian popular music. His powerful, expressive and versatile voice conquered the public and critics throughout his career, which featured collaborations with talented composers and musicians, such as Tom Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil and João Bosco.

As previously explained, Elis Regina was recreated in the German car maker's commercial as a tribute to the different generations of cars and users of the brand over the years.

Luis Gonzaga

Luiz Gonzaga, the King of Baião, was a Brazilian singer, songwriter and accordion player. Born in Exu, Pernambuco, he is considered one of the biggest names in Brazilian popular music and was known for his northeastern-themed songs, such as The Xote das Meninas, The Caipira Train e Russian Pagoda. He was also one of those responsible for popularizing forró and baião in Brazil.

In July of that year, during a concert by singer João Gomes at iFood Arraial Estrelado in São Paulo, with the help of artificial intelligence, images and voice of singer Luiz Gonzaga were displayed. The action was taken to fulfill one of João Gomes' dreams and took more than 40 days to prepare both the visual and vocal parts, which used samples of the classical singer's voice taken from his large repertoire of songs.

Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando was a renowned American actor, considered one of the best actors of all time. He starred in notable films such as A Street Called Sin, in which he played the iconic character Stanley Kowalski, and thieves syndicate, when he won the Oscar for Best Actor. And he was also famous for his role as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, a role for which he won his second Academy Award for Best Actor.

Another popular film that the actor made was the 1978 Superman, in the role of Jor-El, the hero's father. Therefore, in 2006, when they produced Superman - The Return, director Bryan Singer decided to bring back the actor – who had already died 2 years ago – to the role through CGI.

Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson needs no introduction. The singer, songwriter and dancer is considered one of the greatest artists in music history, and his legacy is still celebrated. Known for his complex and innovative choreography, the singer was an innovator in pop music.

In 2014, it was presented during the event of the Billboard a hologram of Michael Jackson reviving the artist for one last performance. Using the technique of capturing movements through sensors to track the movements of an actor who then use this information to create a 3D model of the actor, they used a stuntman named Navi who was trained to imitate the movements of the artist. Until today there is speculation in a possible world tour using the hologram of Michael Jackson after the success of the presentation.

Oliver Reed

Oliver Reed was an English actor best known for his roles in films such as The Three Musketeers, The Lion of the Desert e Gladiator. Reed was talented and versatile, appearing in a variety of films from different genres; he was known for his commanding presence and his talent for playing strong, charismatic characters.

In the last mentioned film, Gladiator, the actor unfortunately died during the recordings and, with most of the scenes already recorded and produced, the production of the film used computer graphics for the two remaining scenes. Due to the absence of technology that allowed a great quality in this type of technique at the time, such scenes were produced as if the character were in dark places or with his back turned so that the public would not notice that something different was inserted in the scene, which worked because the film was nominated for several awards and won five Oscars, including Best Picture of 2000.

Paul Walker

Paul Walker was an American actor who became known worldwide for his role as Brian O'Conner in the film franchise Fast and furious. In addition to his work on the franchise, he has starred in other films such as In the Trail of the Bullet, Decisive Hours e Night flight and was also known for his humanitarian work, having founded the non-profit organization Reach Out Worldwide, which provides assistance in situations of natural disasters.

Paul Walker's untimely death occurred during the filming of Fast and furious 7, which shocked fans and the entire film community. As a form of tribute, the film was completed using archival footage and visual effects and dedicated to his memory with one of the most emotional final scenes ever made, where there is a farewell to the character.

Peter cushing

Peter Cushing was yet another legendary actor who was revived in theaters. Cushing is known for his work in horror films, especially for his collaborations with the British production company Hammer Films. He played the iconic character of Dr. Van Helsing in several film adaptations of vampire stories, including Dracula e Dracula: The Prince of Darkness, as well as also starred as Baron Frankenstein in several films, such as The Curse of Frankenstein.

In pop culture, one of his standout characters was the Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope and for the movie Rogue One, which depicts events leading up to the classic film, used computer graphics to relive the actor in his role as the empire's general once again. The film was entirely recorded by actor Guy Henry, who later had his scenes edited with the superimposition of Peter Cushing's appearance and voice.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan was an American politician who became the 40th President of the United States. He affiliated with the Republican Party and served as Governor of California from 1967 to 1975 and was elected President of the United States in 1980, when he served two consecutive terms from 1981 to 1989.

In 2018, it was released on Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, a 3D hologram of the politician performing three historic speeches: his inaugural speech, a scene from a Western film recalling his career as an actor before politics, and a visit to the Oval Office of the White House. The hologram was created using the technique of deepfake and serves as a tribute to the popular American politician who died in 2004.

Salvador Dali

Salvador Dalí was a renowned Spanish surrealist painter and artist who left a lasting legacy in art and is remembered as one of the greatest exponents of the surrealist movement. His contribution to modern art continues to inspire and intrigue admirers and scholars to this day. His work is characterized by surreal images, dreamlike elements, unusual combinations and precise details.

Despite having died over 30 years ago, the painter currently has a physical presence in the Dali Museum, where it has been digitally recreated so that the artist himself can guide visitors through his works and career. Made by the company GSP, deepfake was created by a research team that retrieved millions of frames from interviews given by the painter while he was still alive, creating a digital mask that superimposed the face of an actor hired to capture movements.

Tupac

Tupac Shakur, popularly known as Tupac or 2Pac, was an American rapper, actor and activist. The artist was a prominent figure in the world of rap and hip-hop music in the 1990s and was recognized for his meaningful lyrics, which addressed social, racial and political issues, and for his intense and charismatic delivery. His songs often reflected his experience as a young black man in the United States and his struggles with poverty, violence and injustice.

His hologram presentation became very popular in 2012, when during a show by rapper Snoop Dogg and producer Dr. Dre, a realistic artist hologram was projected onto the stage, giving the illusion that he was performing live. This hologram technology was developed by the company Digital Domain Media Group in partnership with the visual effects producer AV Concepts. Tupac's hologram performance received a mixed response, with some praising the technological innovation and others questioning its ethics and respect for the late rapper's memory.

Learn more

Elis Regina and Maria Rita unite in a duet with artificial intelligence

Source: ScreenRant, Looper, DeseretNews.

Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim (25/07/23)