James Dean to star in new movie 64 years after his death
James Dean is set to star in an upcoming Vietnam War film, 64 years after his death.
Last week, Magic City Films announced that they will be casting the late Hollywood icon for their upcoming movie Finding Jack through computer-generated imagery (CGI).
Directors Anton Ernst and Tati Golykh told The Hollywood Reporter they obtained the rights to use Dean’s image from the actor’s family. Dean will play a secondary lead character named Rogan.
The announcement sparked backlash from fans and industry figures.
Actor Chris Evans called the decision “awful”, saying, “Maybe we can get a computer to paint us a new Picasso. Or write a couple new John Lennon tunes. The complete lack of understanding here is shameful.”
Actress Zelda Williams, whose late Robin Williams restricted exploitation of his image for 25 years following his death, expressed her concern on Twitter. “I have talked to friends about this for YEARS and no one ever believed me that the industry would stoop this low once tech got better,” she wrote.
“Publicity stunt or not, this is puppeteering the dead for their ‘clout’ alone and it sets such an awful precedent for the future of performance.”
Ernst said Dean’s estate has been “supportive” of the film. “I think they would have wanted their family member’s legacy to live on,” Ernst told The Hollywood Reporter. “That’s what we’ve done here as well. We’ve brought a whole new generation of filmgoers to be aware of James Dean.”
Ernst said he was “saddened” and “confused” by the negative reaction to the news. “We never intended for this to be a marketing gimmick.”
Visual effects companies Imagine Engine and MOI Worldwide will be working on a full-body CGI of Dean based on archival footage and photographs, while another actor will voice Dean’s character.
The movie is expected to be released in November 2020.