‘Frankenstein’ Star Peter Cushing Will Be Resurrected by AI in New Documentary
AI is certainly causing some opinions within Hollywood. While some actors said they will never allow their images and videos to be used by AI, others are embracing it. A new documentary coming soon, just in time for Halloween, called In Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters, is partially honoring the late Peter Cushing (one of the stars Hammer Films made famous) using AI. Cushing is best known for playing Doctor Van Helsing in five Dracula films and Baron Frankenstein in six Frankenstein films. He also appeared in the original Star Wars film.
Cushing passed away in 1994 but his estate has reportedly given the OK to use his likeness to create an AI version of him in the documentary. This isn’t the first time, as he appeared as his character Grand Moff Tarkin for 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. However, there were some legal battles over the use of his image that are going to court.
Everett Collection
Ben Field, who runs Deep Fusion Films, said that he secured all of the necessary permissions to use Cushing in the film. He said, “As a figure central to Hammer’s success, Cushing’s presence is crucial to telling the story authentically. His work, particularly alongside Christopher Lee, was instrumental in shaping the brand and legacy of Hammer Films. Including him allows the project to honor the spirit and impact he had on the studio and its fans, creating a connection between the past and this new exploration.”
He added, “The team’s intent is not to manipulate or sensationalize but to use technology as a tool to bring audiences closer to the history of Hammer Films in an engaging and reverent manner.” The documentary features horror icons including Tim Burton, John Carpenter and more discussing the influence the studio had on their lives and careers and is in honor of the British studio Hammer Films, which turns 90 this year. It will show rare footage and insights on Hammer classic movies. The doc is being given a limited theatrical launch on Halloween and may appear on streaming services sometime later.
Stay tuned for more release info.
Dracula
October 2020
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