Bruce Willis
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Bruce Willis could make a surprise return to acting after selling the rights to allow a “digital twin” of himself to be created.
Willis, 67, struck the deal last year with Delaware-based artificial intelligence company Deepcake, before retiring due to his aphasia diagnosis.
Engineers at the AI-powered content optimisation web platform created an ultra-realistic digital likeness of the Die Hard star by putting images of his face into their network and can now use both his moving and talking image within films and TV productions.
Willis’ twin made his debut in August 2021 by having his face “grafted” on to understudy Konstantin Solovyov for a commercial for Russian telecoms giant MegaFon.
It now only takes engineers “three to five days” to recreate Willis in projects, but his estate will have final sign-off on what is created.
In a statement posted to their website, the star said: “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. 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.”
Willis’ family announced on social media earlier this year that he would be stepping back from the limelight after being diagnosed with aphasia.
Aphasia is an inability to comprehend or formulate language because of damage to specific brain regions due to stroke, head trauma, brain tumor, brain infection, or neurodegenerative disease.
Star Wars producers use deepfake technology for all of their cast members and celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Carrey, and Michelle Pfeiffer also reportedly have digital copies.
Deepcake has targeted becoming the world’s largest talent agency, bringing actors both living and dead back to the big screen.
Founded by Ukrainian-born CEO Maria Chmir, she says discussions are underway to strike similar deals with film studios and the estates of dead stars.
She said: “We create digital twins of celebrities and the actual production process doesn’t require the physical presence of a celebrity on stage.
“It means comics like Charlie Chaplin and Kevin Hart can interact in one frame now.”
