A deepfake of Bruce Willis will appear in his place for future film projects

Bruce Willis may have retired from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, but a version of him will live on in future projects. Last year, the actor's "digital twin" appeared in an ad for a Russian telecom created by a company called Deepcake. Now, it's reported that he's sold his rights to future movies, commercials and other projects to Deepcake, according to the company's website and The Telegraph.

Engineers created the dual digital drawing from content from Die Hard and Fifth Element when Willis was 32 and 42 respectively. With his likeness now on the company's AI platform, he can graft his likeness onto another actor's face in a relatively short amount of time. However, Willis' estate has final approval on all projects.

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In the advertisement for Megafon, the face of Willis was replaced by that of actor Konstantin Soloviev. "I liked the precision of my character. It's a great opportunity for me to go back in time," Willis said in a statement on Deepcake. "With the advent of modern technology, I was able to communicate, work and participate in filming, even while being on another continent. It's a new and interesting experience for me, and I thank our team."

In March, Willis' family announced that he was retiring due to a diagnosis of aphasia, which impairs communication and understanding. Over the past few years, the 67-year-old has appeared in a series of projects as he worried about his cognitive status.

Actors have appeared before as digital versions of themselves, including in The Book of Boba Fett starring a young Mark Hamill. Digital versions of Carrie Fisher and Peter Cushing also appeared in Star Wars: Rogue One, despite the fact that they are both deceased. James Earl Jones recently sold Disney the right to recreate his voice using AI, so he could retire.

The practice has fueled controversy. Deepfakes vary widely in quality, but many approach "strange valley" where characters don't look quite right due to stiff movements, dead eyes, and other issues. There's also the matter of rights, as deceased actors cannot turn down posthumous film roles, even if family or estate approves.

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