San Francisco Chronicle film critic Mick LaSalle explores the ethical implications of using AI to create new performances from deceased actors like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. In a reader Q&A column, LaSalle argues that while the technology could produce compelling content, forcing digital recreations of dead performers to act in ways they never would represents a form of virtual hell.
What they’re saying: LaSalle acknowledges the creative temptations but draws a moral line at posthumous digital exploitation.
The big picture: LaSalle predicts actors will eventually have “two bodies of work — the work they did, and the work that was done to them, without their consent,” highlighting concerns about digital consent and posthumous exploitation.
Market reality: The critic believes commercial forces will naturally limit widespread adoption of AI-generated deceased actors, though he anticipates “one or two having the hellish misfortune of breaking through.”
Why this matters: As AI technology advances toward creating “fully realized, natural-looking characters” rather than “strangely Plasticine CGI stuff,” the entertainment industry faces fundamental questions about consent, artistic integrity, and the commodification of human likeness after death.
Beyond the tech: The column also touches on LaSalle’s advocacy for Kevin Spacey’s return to Hollywood following his acquittals, and his appreciation for Def Leppard’s melodic approach to heavy metal music.