Using Deepfake in Trek... Yes or no?

[Roald]

It's only a matter of time before deepfake technology will become an integrated part of filmmaking, and I was wondering: would you like to see old characters back using this? An episode of Strange New Worlds featuring a young Kirk or something? For me, it would be a great option if the story requires it and if the original actors or their estates are involved.

Like it or not, I do believe it's bound to happen...

 

[King Bob!]

Generally? No. It would become a nostalgia crutch and Trek doesn't really need anymore of those, plus it kinda shuts out new actors from giving new spins on characters. Specifically? Like anything else, it would depend on how its done.

 

[Angry Fanboy]

As with most things it depends on the circumstances and how it's used - relatively minor bits and pieces is fine, but I don't want a 1960s Captain Kirk or Spock featuring in an episode or film, nor do I think there's any need for that.

 

[Tosk]

Nah, just recast. Cheaper, and ultimately less distracting. Never say never though.

 

[captainkirk]

No. Imagine if ST09 had just deepfaked the whole main cast (ignore the fact that it wasn't possible at the time). Aside from how creepy and distracting it would be, we would miss out on so much. The filmmakers would be focusing on how to make someone look like Willaim Shatner, rather than finding someone who can embody Kirk.

 

[fireproof78]

No. As per usual it keeps franchises stuck in their past rather than daring to do something new.

 

[F. King Daniel]

If it's a 2 second flashback where Admiral Picard walks past Ambassador Spock on their way to their respective Romulan supernova missions, okay. Anything more, nope.

Recast.

 

[Yistaan]

No. Imagine if ST09 had just deepfaked the whole main cast (ignore the fact that it wasn't possible at the time). Aside from how creepy and distracting it would be, we would miss out on so much. The filmmakers would be focusing on how to make someone look like Willaim Shatner, rather than finding someone who can embody Kirk.

I don't know. Rogue One spent a lot, and I mean a lot of effort at bringing Tarkin into the film. Trek 2009 spent no such effort on its technical effects, and yet it was still a massively inferior film, in my opinion, to Rogue One storyline wise and special effects wise.

 

[fireproof78]

I don't know. Rogue One spent a lot, and I mean a lot of effort at bringing Tarkin into the film. Trek 2009 spent no such effort on its technical effects, and yet it was still a massively inferior film, in my opinion, to Rogue One storyline wise and special effects wise.

That would have been a very poor choice, to my mind. Tarkin was just OK, but very distracting in Rogue One. The film succeeded in spite of that.

ST 09 was designed to be a new introduction to these characters for fans, new and old alike. So, you would have to completely redo the entire 09 film to make it viable as a deep fake fully project. And I can't imagine the amount of money that would be spent in 08 on production and VFX to do Deepfake at a time when that tech was limited.

 

[captainkirk]

I don't know. Rogue One spent a lot, and I mean a lot of effort at bringing Tarkin into the film. Trek 2009 spent no such effort on its technical effects, and yet it was still a massively inferior film, in my opinion, to Rogue One storyline wise and special effects wise.

Aside from the fact that that’s entirely subjective, the quality of the movie is not dependent on the effects alone. Otherwise Michael Bay would be considered a great director.

 

[Yistaan]

Aside from the fact that that’s entirely subjective, the quality of the movie is not dependent on the effects alone. Otherwise Michael Bay would be considered a great director.

I literally said in my post Rogue One had a vastly superior story to Trek 2009.

 

[captainkirk]

I literally said in my post Rogue One had a vastly superior story to Trek 2009.

As I said, that's a subjective opinion (I can't comment on it as I haven't watched Rogue One) and the story is irrelevant to this discussion. Creating a CG Peter Cushing has no impact on the storytelling.

 

[F. King Daniel]

CG Cushing is kinda uncanny valley. It's not as offputting as CG Leia at the end but it's a weird gimmick. Actors just stand there sometimes in the background, he was animated to be constantly grimacing or snarling at all times.

And having seen both, I'd say ST'09 is vastly superior but each to their own.

 

[publiusr]

Yes for me.

By 2066 the CGI will be flawless, and the novels can be adapted.

 

[Angry Fanboy]

Yes for me.

By 2066 the CGI will be flawless, and the novels can be adapted.

Oh come on, as if there's any market for Star Trek or Star Wars novels to be adapted into films!

 

[N-121973]

I would love it if they had another crack at remastering TOS by using deepfake to insert Shatner & co into the sets, SFX and uniforms of Strange New Worlds, ditto the 2-part mirror universe episode from Enterprise season four, the holodeck scenes of Relics and Trials & Tribbleations from DS9.

 

[jackoverfull]

Honestly, since I saw Rogue One I’ve been sure this will happen eventually.

Spoiler: The Mandalorian S2

And now we have CGI Luke.

In a few years the technology will be cheap enough and the studios will have the chances to use well-known faces on unknown, cheap actors, paying a bit of revenue to old stars and their estates and using nostalgia to make money.

It is a money-making scheme based on nostalgia, but it will bring cheap money to the studios, so it’s definitely going to happen.

If the fad will last after a few decades is something that I can’t predict.

We live in te best of times, we love in the worst of times.

Oh come on, as if there's any market for Star Trek or Star Wars novels to be adapted into films!

If it can be done cheaply enough there is a market for sure.

I would love it if they had another crack at remastering TOS by using deepfake to insert Shatner & co into the sets, SFX and uniforms of Strange New Worlds, ditto the 2-part mirror universe episode from Enterprise season four, the holodeck scenes of Relics and Trials & Tribbleations from DS9.

please no!

 

[Leo Walsh]

Deepfaking and CGing old or dead actors is a stunt. It's almost always distracting, and there's no creative reason for going through the expense and complexity of doing it for an entire film. The closest real justification for such a thing would be that Will Smith movie last year, and I can't even remember the name of it.

 

[Angry Fanboy]

Deepfaking and CGing old or dead actors is a stunt. It's almost always distracting, and there's no creative reason for going through the expense and complexity of doing it for an entire film. The closest real justification for such a thing would be that Will Smith movie last year, and I can't even remember the name of it.

Gemini Man.

 

[Leo Walsh]

Right, Gemini Man. If the thing had been a big hit, there would have been a studio fad for deepfuckery. As it is, it remains a toy.