The men bringing James Dean back to life for a
forthcoming film are aiming not just to give his
digital likeness a role, but a whole new career.
Dean’s planned appearance in the Vietnam War
movie “Finding Jack,” and the possibility of future
parts, comes as digital de-aging and duplication
of real actors has tipped from cinematic trick
into common practice. And it’s giving new life
to old arguments about the immortality and
dignity of the dead.
“Our intentions are to create the virtual being
of James Dean. That’s not only for one movie,
but going to be used for many movies and also
gaming and virtual reality,” said Travis Cloyd, CEO
of Worldwide XR, who is leading the design on the
Dean project. “Our focus is on building the ultimate
James Dean so he can live across any medium.”
Legally, they have every right to do it, via the
full agreement of the Dean estate and his
surviving relatives.