'My lawyers will continue working after I die' Robert Downey Jr. is adamant no one will resurrect him with AI, not even Marvel

News culture 'My lawyers will continue working after I die' Robert Downey Jr. is adamant no one will resurrect him with AI, not even Marvel

Thanks to technological advances, it is now possible to use the appearance of an actor, even a deceased one, to make him appear in a film. We remember that the first time that the public was marked by this technique was for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in which we could see a young version of Carrie Fisher, the actress of Princess Leia, and above all of Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin.

But today, the use of this type of process is debated and the actors still alive position themselves on this technology with regard to their own image. And for Robert Downey Jr., known for his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel films, the answer is categorical: no!

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“I intend to sue all these future leaders”

Recently, Robert Downey Jr. participated in the podcast “On With Kara Swisher” in which the question of the use of artificial intelligence in Hollywood to “digitally revive” a comedian came up. And on this theme, the 59-year-old actor has a clear answer:

As far as the MCU goes, I don't worry about my character's soul being stolen because there are three or four people making the decisions and they would never do that to me, with or without me. (…) But (for what might happen in the future), I would like to make it clear that I intend to sue all these future leaders. (Even if I am dead), my lawyers will continue to work. – Robert Downey Jr.

A topic that is debated

If Robert Downey Jr. is so uncompromising on this point, it is because the question of using artificial intelligence to “digitally revive” an actor poses many problems. If we take the example of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, we remember that recently, a relative of Peter Cushing says the British actor vetoed the use of his image after his death.

For that, Disney risks being sued for “non-consented digital resurrection” if Kevin Francis, friend of Peter Cushing, follows through with his approach. However, Lunak Heavy Industries, which produces Rogue One, as well as LucasFilm, owner of the rights to Star Wars, could well argue that it was not aware of the document signed by the British actor before his death. In any case, one thing is certain, it is that the use of AI has not stopped making headlines, in cinema as elsewhere.