Movie fans have been left furious after the late actor Ian Holm appeared in the latest Alien film with the crew recreating his likeness using AI.
Ian tragically died aged 88 from Parkinson’s disease in 2020.
Before his death, the actor had become known as a Hollywood heavyweight after his work in the Alien franchise as well as a number of other successful films such as Lord of the Rings and Ratatouille.
On August 16, moviegoers flocked to movie theaters to watch the latest episode, Alien: Romulus, and spotted Ian being recreated as an AI. The film, which sees scavengers break into a space station to steal supplies, stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson and AI Ian who portrays a half-melted robot.
And even though the film dethroned Deadpool & Wolverine from the top spot at the box office by bringing in $41.5 million, movie fans took to social media to express their frustration with Ian’s AI.
Movie fans have been left furious after the late actor Ian Holm (who appeared in the 1979 film Alien) appeared in the latest Alien film as the crew recreated his likeness using AI
When scavengers invade the station, they must fight for their lives.
That’s when they discover the robot is an AI-recreation of Ian and is a nod to his character in the original film.
And Ian’s AI wasn’t just present in one scene, it was in a series of shots.
Although the director, Fede Álvarez, received approval from Ian’s family to use his AI version in the film, moviegoers were still furious with the use.
One person said: “CGI AI deep fake Ian Holm is one of the worst things I’ve ever seen in my life dawg (sic).”
Another user wrote: “Guys, the problem is not AI. The problem is that Ian Holm is dead and couldn’t agree to have his face used in the film. Whether it’s genetic AI or CGI or animatronic, this is clearly Ian’s face and is supposed to be his presence in the film. It is unacceptable.’
“Artificial intelligence is also a problem,” said a third person.
Another added: “Yeah, while AI is its own problem, the lack of potential consent and commoditizing the likeness of the dead is gross.”
Before his death, the actor had established himself as a Hollywood heavyweight after his work in the Alien franchise as well as a number of other successful films (he appeared in the 1979 film Alien)
Although the director, Fede Álvarez, received approval from Ian’s family to use his AI version in the film, moviegoers were still furious with the use of
The director responded to the backlash during an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
He said: “For the last 10 years after The Hobbit, Ian felt that Hollywood had turned its back on him and his widow felt she would have liked to be a part of that. He especially loved this character.
“We did it all very respectfully and always with the authorization of his family, his children and his widow, who said, ‘We would like to see his like again.’
Ian was born in 1931 in a mental asylum in Goodmayes, Essex. He was married four times, including to Downton Abbey actress Penelope Wilton, whom he married in 1991 and divorced 10 years later.
Widely regarded as one of Britain’s greatest actors, Ian was a favorite among critics, audiences and fellow actors.
His presence was coveted by directors and he worked alongside Martin Scorsese, Stanley Tucci, David Cronenberg and Woody Allen to name but a few.
In more than 100 roles in film, television and stage, he secured a Laurence Olivier Award, a Tony and a BAFTA, and was a member of the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company.
Ian was born in 1931 in Essex. He was married four times, including to Downton Abbey actress Penelope Wilton, whom he married in 1991 and divorced 10 years later.
Alien: Romulus is the seventh installment in the beloved sci-fi series, which began with Ridley Scott’s original Alien in 1979 (Ian appeared in the 1979 film)
His various pastimes led to him being dubbed the “Lord of the Wings” by the tabloid press.
Alien: Romulus is the seventh installment in the beloved sci-fi franchise, which began with Ridley Scott’s original Alien in 1979.
Starring Cailee Spaeny, the latter film is set in the same general era as the first, the year 2142,
But the plot is meant to stand on its own as it follows a group of youngsters on the Renaissance space station who encounter “the most terrifying life form in the universe.”
This isn’t the first time the latest film has caused controversy, as recently as last week, fans who saw the latest installment of the Alien franchise at the Alamo Drafthouse full-service cinema expressed their distaste for the themed menu – and they didn’t hold back on social media media.
Alamo Drafthouse is known for its seat-side food and drink service, with the chain changing its offerings based on the movie being shown.
For Alien: Romulus, many were quick to note that the menu items looked alarmingly bombastic for cinema and cinema.
Revealed by a user X who posted an image of the menu on Twitter, the food offerings included Escape Hatch Queso, Facehugger Fries and a ‘Xenoburger’.
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