As a die-hard Star Wars fan with a soft spot for iconic voices, I find myself deeply moved by the news of James Earl Jones’ passing at 93. His voice, that baritone rumble that brought Darth Vader to life, was not just a voice – it was an experience, a feeling. And now, as we stand on the precipice of a new era in entertainment technology, I can’t help but wonder: Will Vader still breathe his menacing ‘Noooo’ across the galaxy far, far away?
The distinctive voice of James Earl Jones, one of his numerous talents as an actor, has left a lasting impact. As the actor passed away this week at the age of 93, it remains uncertain whether his voice might be featured in upcoming productions, especially those within the Star Wars series.
One of James Earl Jones is widely recognized for lending his distinctive voice to Darth Vader, a character he first brought to life in the 1977 film “Star Wars.” He continued to voice the character throughout the original trilogy and later reprised the role in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016) and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (2019). Although Jones did not participate in the 2022 Disney+ series “Obi Wan-Kenobi,” his voice was employed, with Matthew Wood from Skywalker Sound revealing to Vanity Fair that the actor had stepped away from the role but granted permission for his archived recordings.
Jones collaborated with the Ukrainian tech company Respeecher, known for utilizing AI to rework audio from his initial Darth Vader roles, to generate fresh dialogue lines featuring a more youthful tone. Jones was likened to a caring mentor by the media as he provided advice and direction to the team working on Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s new dialogues with his guidance.
After Jones passed away on Monday, people are waiting to see if his voice might reappear in either the Star Wars universe or other ventures, considering he was also famous for voicing Mufasa in The Lion King series. The Hollywood Reporter has contacted representatives from Lucasfilm and Disney to clarify whether Jones had agreed to use his voice posthumously in Star Wars. However, for the upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King, it is not expected that Jones’ voice will be featured as Aaron Pierre voices Mufasa in this production.
Mary LaFrance, a professor of intellectual property law at UNLV, explains to The Hollywood Reporter that much will hinge on the types of contracts the performer signed during their lifetime. If they gave permission for digital replicas of their voice or image, it’s crucial to understand the specifics of those agreements. Are these agreements still valid for any new works created after their death?
Recently, SAG-AFTRA was among the groups praising California’s State Senate for approving bill AB 1836, which mandates consent before utilizing digital versions of deceased actors. This language mirrors what SAG-AFTRA incorporated in its contract last year post-actors’ strike. Earlier this year, Tennessee led the way by passing the ELVIS Act (Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security), making it the first state to safeguard musicians from unauthorized use of their voices through AI and deepfakes.
Discussions about incorporating deceased actors in movies, particularly in continuations of popular series, continue as AI technology advances. For instance, the recent release, “Alien: Romulus,” employed the likeness of the late actor Ian Holm, who portrayed android Ash in the 1979 original “Alien.” To create a new android character named Rook, 20th Century Studios combined animatronics, computer-generated imagery (CGI), and artificial intelligence. In a statement to THR, the estate of Holm, who passed away in 2020, consented and shared, “We were happy to be part of this project and are glad that Fox is introducing both ‘Alien’ and Ian to a new generation.
In the movie “Rogue One,” the Star Wars franchise innovatively introduced the character Grand Moff Tarkin. This was made possible through digital technology, which brought back actor Peter Cushing, who passed away in 1994. However, Disney, the owners of Lucasfilm, are currently involved in a court case. Tyburn Film Productions, a U.K. company, claims that Cushing had agreed that his likeness could only be reused with their consent using special effects. Disney counters that they reached an agreement with Cushing’s estate, but a judge has decided that this matter will be taken to trial.
Cinematographer Eric Adkins, who worked on the 2004 film “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow,” shares that everything was alright as they had received permission for their unique project. This movie creatively utilized archival footage of the late Laurence Olivier to create a new character. Remarkably, Olivier passed away in 1989. Adkins explains that one of the film’s stars approached Olivier’s widow to discuss their vision for the film: “In our modern era where people are concerned about likeness rights for AI, we managed to get permission from the estate by having Jude Law meet with Lawrence Olivier’s wife and persuasively talk her into agreeing.
In December, you’ll find the movie “Mufasa: The Lion King” gracing the screens, a prequel directed by Barry Jenkins for Disney. This film delves into the backstory of Mufasa, a character that James Earl Jones gave voice to in the 1994 animated version and also in the 2019 photorealistic reboot of “The Lion King”.
As a devoted alum, I’m thrilled to share that my voice will remain part of the iconic University of Michigan football game intro video. Since its debut in 2015, my impassioned two-minute speech about school spirit has opened every home game. Excitingly, this timeless tradition will continue unaltered, keeping the essence of Wolverine pride alive and well!
According to Kevin J. Greene, a professor of copyright and entertainment law at Southwestern Law School, newly passed laws are essential as they aid performers in maneuvering through this evolving environment. He advises performers to pay close attention to contract details regarding voice and likeness rights, as he believes there might be inadequate protection or safeguards to ensure the fair execution of these agreements.
Greene finds it acceptable for those nearing the end of their lives to express a wish to pass on funds to their family, he’s however more cautious about individuals with many years left who might unknowingly transfer rights they may later come to regret.
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2024-09-13 23:56