Late Star Wars Actor Reanimated With AI Again for New Documentary

Classic horror movie icon Peter Cushing will make an appearance from beyond the grave in a Sky documentary celebrating the 90th birthday of Hammer Films, the production company that first introduced Cushing’s charismatic talents to the horror genre. Aptly titled Hammer: Heroes, Legends, and Monsters, an AI replication of Cushing’s likeness will appear in the documentary alongside other influential names like Tim Burton and John Carpenter — despite the controversy and subsequent legal battles that ensued from Disney’s usage of Cushing’s image in the Star Wars film Rogue One.

Though his acting career spanned 60 years and over 100 films, Cushing is perhaps most fondly remembered as the star of numerous Hammer Films projects. He made several appearances as Van Helsing and Victor Frankenstein, with his performances earning the praise of renowned film critic Roger Ebert, and also took on a plethora of smaller roles in other Hammer Films productions, including The Abominable Snowman in 1957 and The Mummy in 1959. Now, the architects behind Hammer: Heroes, Legends, and Monsters plan to use Cushing’s posthumous appearance in the documentary as a commemoration of his immeasurable legacy.

Narrated by Charles Dance, the documentary has been advertised to viewers as a “powerful and poignant reveal of Hammer royalty,” which will reveal Hammer Films’ transformation from a small London studio to a seminal force in the horror genre. As for Cushing, his cameo was described as a “special homage” to the late actor.

The use of AI to bring deceased actors back to the big screen has become a controversial topic, but Deep Fusion, the producer of Hammer: Heroes, Legends, and Monsters, seems determined to do it right. Ben Field of Deep Fusion confirmed that Hammer Films had obtained permission to use Cushing’s image, adding that Cushing was an indispensable part of the studio’s legacy. “As a figure central to Hammer’s success, Cushing’s presence is crucial to telling the story authentically,” Field said. “His work, particularly alongside Christopher Lee, was instrumental in shaping the brand and legacy of Hammer Films.”

Cushing’s Rogue One Controversy Raised Questions About the Ethics of AI Resurrection

While Cushing is first and foremost remembered as a horror actor, he also appeared in the original Star Wars trilogy as the villain Grand Moff Tarkin. 20 years later after Cushing’s death, however, Disney decided to resurrect his image via AI in Rogue One without his business associate’s explicit permission, launching a highly publicized lawsuit that embodies the moral and ethical conundrums surrounding the use of AI technology in film. Although the lawsuit itself largely revolved around the question of who owns the rights to Cushing’s likeness — already an unpleasant-sounding debate — onlookers have also observed a discomfiting air of dystopia at the very idea of deceased actors continuing to “make movies” through AI technology.

While Cushing’s beyond-the-grave participation in Hammer: Heroes, Legends, and Monsters may be out of respect for his impact on the studio, documentaries have long included subjects that are either deceased or otherwise incapacitated and unable to make an appearance. Showing snippets of Cushing’s work, interviews, and quotes from one or both of his autobiographies could surely suffice as a tribute to the late actor without the need to employ ethically dubious technology. If Hammer Films and Deep Fusion have indeed received the necessary permissions to use Cushing’s image, the prospect of another legal battle is unlikely, but that doesn’t make the topic of AI resurrection any less difficult to swallow.

Release Date

December 14, 2016

Runtime

133

Studio

Walt Disney Pictures / Lucasfilm

Tagline

A rebellion built on hope

Franchise

Star Wars

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