September 19, 2024
From voice cloning to “digital human” performances and immersive events, iconic celebrities like Judy Garland, James Dean, and Elvis Presley might have passed away, but their earnings are flourishing more than ever.
Imagine experiencing “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” narrated by none other than James Dean himself. Despite his untimely death in 1955, Dean’s legacy continues to thrive financially thanks to cutting-edge artificial intelligence.
Joining him are the estates of Judy Garland, Laurence Olivier, and Burt Reynolds, which have partnered with AI voice-cloning innovator ElevenLabs as part of their “iconic voices” initiative. These legendary figures now lend their digitally replicated voices to narrate everything from classic literature to modern articles via the ElevenLabs’ Reader app, allowing you, for instance, to hear Garland recite “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” or even navigate through complex tax documents.
This thriving sector of resurrecting celebrity personas through AI has proven to be exceedingly profitable. Despite facing a $500 million debt at his death, Michael Jackson’s estate has since generated over $2 billion, propelled by musicals and posthumous albums, as reported by People magazine. Advances in AI technology now enable late artists like Jackson to continue creating new content, blurring the lines between past and present artistic contributions.
Mark Roesler, a seasoned intellectual property attorney, manages the estates of over 3,000 celebrities, most of whom have passed away. His firm, CMG Worldwide Inc., has been pivotal in securing about 30,000 contracts that leverage the enduring appeal of these personalities. Roesler’s efforts are complemented by modern tech advancements, which have transformed how estates monetize the intellectual properties of the deceased. For example, Travis Cloyd, CEO of Worldwide XR, is innovatively casting James Dean in the upcoming film “Return to Eden” by utilizing “digital human” technology that synthesizes Dean’s classic performances with new digital elements.
This process involves intricate AI algorithms that analyze extensive legacy footage to recreate authentic digital representations of the actor. These digital avatars are enhanced with modern motion capture technology, portraying realistic skin textures and movements, and are perfected with synchronized voiceovers.
The entertainment industry is increasingly embracing these technologies, with significant implications for how estates manage and expand the legacies of deceased celebrities. Initiatives like ABBA Voyage exemplify the potential of digital avatars in creating enduring revenue streams by captivating new audiences with virtual performances.
However, not everyone is convinced of the merits of AI in the arts. Skeptics like Jeff Jampol, who manages the legacies of artists like Janis Joplin and The Doors, view AI as a transient trend and caution against distorting the authentic expressions of historical figures for commercial gain.
As the debate continues, the industry is poised on the brink of a new era where the digital resurrection of celebrities not only transforms their legacy management but also redefines the boundaries of artistic expression. With projects like Elvis Evolution set to showcase Elvis Presley in a never-before-seen holographic performance, the possibilities—and ethical considerations—of this technology continue to unfold, promising a future where the icons of the past are brought to life in ways previously unimaginable.