UPDATE:
It turns out that Bruce Willis has indeed not sold his likeness for deep fake usage in future movies and TV shows, as originally reported by multiple outlets. The company Willis had reported ties to, Deepcake, has said that “the rights to Bruce Willis’s image [and] to his Digital Twin belong to Bruce Willis and to him only.” A rep for the actor further stated, “has no partnership or agreement with this Deepcake company.” In other words, it’s up to him how he wants to handle another Look Who’s Talking movie.
Original Article:
When it was announced earlier this year that Bruce Willis would be stepping away from the silver screen after being diagnosed with aphasia, fans and collaborators all over mourned the loss of one of the great action stars of modern movies. But now, deepfake technology has proven that Bruce Willis can live forever.
Bruce Willis has become the first major Hollywood star to license his likeness for deepfake usage through a company called Deepcake, which specializes in “AI solutions for video production.” In other words, Willis would now have a “digital twin.”
In a statement, Bruce Willis praised Deepcake. “I liked the precision with which my character turned out. It’s a mini-movie in my usual action-comedy genre. For me, it is a great opportunity to go back in time.”
The Die Hard actor is fully on board with such technological advances. Just last year, Bruce Willis appeared in a Russian commercial via deepfake tech. “With the advent of modern technology, even when I was on another continent, I was able to communicate, work and participate in the filming. It’s a very new and interesting experience, and I thank our entire team.”
Aphasia is a condition which severely limits one’s ability to communicate through speaking or writing, in addition to other symptoms. As such, he would have to effectively retire from performing.
One now wonders where the deepfake world could take Bruce Willis. Conceivably, there could be Die Hard prequels, right? Could The Last Boy Scout go back in time and become The First Boy Scout? Wait–could they actually have him voice the Look Who’s Talking baby, except now little Mikey has a Bruce Willis face?
What do you think about deepfake technology being used in movies? Do you want to see this tech used for Bruce Willis–or any other actor? Let us know in the comments below!