TLDR:
- “Alien: Romulus” used AI to recreate late actor Ian Holm’s likeness
- Director Fede Alvarez got approval from Holm’s family for the AI recreation
- The AI version of Holm sparked controversy among some fans
- New legislation in California addresses AI usage of actors’ likenesses
- The recreation process involved animatronics, facial capture, and voice alteration
The recent release of “Alien: Romulus” has ignited a debate over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate deceased actors, as the film features a digital likeness of the late Ian Holm.
Director Fede Alvarez confirmed that AI technology was used to bring Holm’s character back to the screen, nearly four years after the actor’s death in 2020 at the age of 88.
In the movie, a humanoid android named Rook bears Holm’s likeness, a nod to his role as the android Ash in the original 1979 “Alien” film. The decision to include this AI-generated character has drawn mixed reactions from fans, with some expressing discomfort at the idea of using a deceased actor’s image.
Alvarez defended the decision, stating that they approached the process with respect and obtained authorization from Holm’s family.
The director reached out to Holm’s widow, Sophie de Stempel, who reportedly felt that her late husband would have appreciated being part of the project.
Alvarez emphasized that they were not attempting to reproduce Holm’s acting talent but rather using his likeness for a new character.
The recreation process was complex, involving an animatronic body on set, facial capture performed by actor Daniel Betts, and voice alteration using generative AI and computer modeling.
The production team also utilized 4K scans of the original “Alien” film and AI-enabled techniques from startup Metaphysic to refine the performance.
This use of AI technology comes at a time when the entertainment industry is grappling with the implications of such advancements.
In August, the California state Senate passed two bills addressing the use of AI to create digital replicas of performers. AB 1836 restricts the use of AI to create digital replicas of deceased performers without consent from their estates, while AB 2602 increases consent requirements for living performers.
The actors’ guild, SAG-AFTRA, has expressed support for these bills and similar federal legislation, the No Fakes Act. The union recently concluded a strike against major studios, with AI usage being a significant point of contention.
As a result of negotiations, employers must now obtain consent from performers or their estates to use their likenesses in projects for which they were not originally employed.
Alvarez maintains that the use of AI in this instance was specific to the film and does not believe it will replace actors in the future. He pointed out that the process was more expensive and time-consuming than hiring an actor, involving a large team and multiple steps to achieve the desired result.
While some view the AI recreation as a tribute to Holm’s legacy in the “Alien” franchise, others see it as a concerning precedent that raises questions about posthumous consent and the preservation of an actor’s artistic integrity.
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