James Earl Jones’ Genius Move: How an AI Startup Immortalized Darth Vader’s Voice
James Earl Jones secured his iconic legacy by teaming up with Respeecher to clone his voice for Disney’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” ensuring Darth Vader’s baritone endures.
Hot Take:
James Earl Jones: the voice that launched a thousand soundbytes. While he’s off chilling in the afterlife, his AI-cloned voice is still ruling the galaxy. Meanwhile, Peter Cushing’s digital ghost is haunting Disney’s legal department. Who knew the Force could get so litigious?
Key Points:
- James Earl Jones collaborated with Respeecher to clone his iconic voice using AI.
- Jones signed over the rights to his voice, enabling its usage in future “Star Wars” projects.
- The AI voice was trained using past “Star Wars” footage, not Jones’ current voice.
- Peter Cushing’s likeness was used in “Rogue One” without his prior consent, leading to a lawsuit.
- Disney paid Cushing’s agent but still faces legal challenges over the use of his digital likeness.
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