From ‘Star Wars’ to ‘Alien: How Val Kilmer, Gene Wilder and 3 other late Hollywood stars returned to the screen through AI, CGI and digital effects |
The use of artificial intelligence (AI), computer-generated imagery (CGI) and digital visual effects has made it possible for filmmakers to bring the likenesses of late actors back to the screen. While some productions have relied on previously unseen footage and digital enhancements, others have recreated an actor’s appearance or voice using advanced technology. These techniques have also sparked debate in Hollywood over consent, creative ethics and the rights of actors after their deaths. From Carrie Fisher’s appearances in the Star Wars franchise to Val Kilmer’s AI-generated role in As Deep as the Grave, here are five late Hollywood stars whose screen legacies have continued through digital recreations.
Carrie Fisher in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ and ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’
Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ and ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’
Carrie Fisher, best known for playing Princess Leia in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise, appeared in films released after her death on December 27, 2016, at the age of 60. For ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019), filmmaker J. J. Abrams used previously unreleased footage of Fisher shot for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. The material was incorporated into the film with the help of visual effects, allowing Fisher’s Leia to remain part of the story. Her daughter, Billie Lourd, also served as a body double for some scenes.According to Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and The Guardian, Fisher had also appeared digitally in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ (2016), released shortly before her death. Since the film takes place before the events of the original ‘Star Wars’, the visual effects team recreated a younger version of Leia. Norwegian actor Ingvild Deila served as the on-screen stand-in, with digital effects used to reproduce Fisher’s appearance. The sequence relied on CGI and archival material rather than modern generative AI. The work was part of ILM’s effort to recreate the character’s appearance from the original film.
Val Kilmer in ‘As Deep as the Grave’
‘As Deep as the Grave’ makers use AI to include late actor Val Kilmer’s role in film
Val Kilmer, who died on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65, is set to appear in ‘As Deep as the Grave’ through an AI-generated performance. The actor had been cast as Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist, but his declining health prevented him from travelling to the set and filming his scenes. According to Variety, writer-director Coerte Voorhees received the cooperation of Kilmer’s estate and his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, to recreate the actor for the film. The production used photographs from different stages of his life, archival footage and voice material to create the performance.Explaining why he wanted Kilmer for the role, Voorhees told Variety, “He was the actor I wanted to play this role. It was very much designed around him.” He added that the part drew on Kilmer’s Native American heritage and his connection to the American Southwest. The decision has drawn scrutiny amid Hollywood’s wider debate over AI-generated performances. However, Kilmer’s family has supported the project, with his daughter saying that her father viewed emerging technologies as a way to expand storytelling possibilities. The film’s use of AI has brought renewed attention to questions surrounding consent, compensation and the use of an actor’s likeness after death.
Peter Cushing in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’
Peter Cushing in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’
British actor Peter Cushing, who died on August 11, 1994, at the age of 81, returned to the ‘Star Wars’ universe in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ (2016). Cushing had played Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin in ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ (1977), and the character was brought back for the prequel. Actor Guy Henry performed the role on set, while the visual effects team at Industrial Light & Magic digitally recreated Cushing’s face and likeness. The process combined Henry’s performance with CGI and reference material from Cushing’s earlier work. The filmmakers obtained permission from Cushing’s estate to use his likeness, according to The Guardian.The recreation became a prominent talking point after the film’s release, raising questions about the ethics of digitally reproducing actors who are no longer alive. The visual effects supervisor, John Knoll, defended the decision, telling The Guardian that the work had been done with care and in consultation with the actor’s estate. Cushing’s appearance in Rogue One remains one of Hollywood’s best-known examples of a deceased performer being digitally recreated for a major studio film.
Gene Wilder in ‘Wonka’s The Golden Ticket’
Gene Wilder’s voice will be AI-generated for Willy Wonka-themed reality show.
Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka in the 1971 film ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,’ returned to the character’s world through his AI-recreated voice in Netflix’s reality competition series ‘Wonka’s The Golden Ticket’, released in 2026. Wilder died on August 29, 2016, at the age of 83. Rather than recreating his physical appearance, the production used AI technology to reproduce his distinctive voice for the series. According to Netflix’s Tudum, the team sought permission from Wilder’s widow, Karen Boyer, who provided access to old recordings and audiobooks to help recreate his humour, tone and vocal mannerisms.Showrunner Alison Holloway explained why Wilder was the team’s choice, saying, “The only person that could be Wonka is Gene Wilder.” She also expressed gratitude for his widow’s approval of the project. The use of Wilder’s voice offers a different example of posthumous digital recreation, with AI being used for audio rather than a visual performance. It has also added to the ongoing discussion about how a late performer’s voice and identity should be used in new productions.
Ian Holm in ‘Alien: Romulus’
Ian Holm brought back to life in ‘Alien: Romulas’
Ian Holm, the British actor remembered by many audiences as Bilbo Baggins in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, appeared posthumously in ‘Alien: Romulus’ (2024). Holm died on June 19, 2020, at the age of 88. In the science-fiction film, his likeness was used for Rook, an android resembling Ash, the character he played in the original ‘Alien’ (1979). Director Fede Álvarez and the visual effects team combined practical effects, CGI and AI-assisted techniques to recreate Holm’s likeness. Actor Daniel Betts contributed to the physical performance, while the production secured permission from Holm’s family and estate.Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Álvarez explained the decision to bring back Holm’s likeness, saying, “It was unfair that the likeness of Ash was never used again.” He added that the team proceeded with the approval of Holm’s widow and children. The recreation proved controversial among some viewers, with criticism directed at both the decision to use a deceased actor’s likeness and the visual effects. The film’s release renewed debate about the boundaries between visual effects, AI and the rights of performers whose images continue to appear on screen after their deaths.
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