File this one under "Something no on really asked for, and lots of people will be unhappy about". Following on from the increased use of digital doubles and de-aged actors, one company is now looking to take another step and craft a virtual version of James Dean to appear in a new film called Finding Jack.
Despite Dean's previous unavailability (due to him perishing at the age of 24 in a car crash in 1955), directors Anton Ernst and Tati Golykh have bought the rights to use Dean's image from his family and plan to recreate what they're describing as "a realistic" version of the late actor.
The job will involve using archive footage and photography to create a "full body" CG recreation, while an actor will provide his voice. "We searched high and low for the perfect character to portray the role of Rogan, which has some extreme complex character arcs, and after months of research, we decided on James Dean," Ernst tells The Hollywood Reporter. "We feel very honored that his family supports us and will take every precaution to ensure that his legacy as one of the most epic film stars to date is kept firmly intact. The family views this as his fourth movie, a movie he never got to make. We do not intend to let his fans down." Just anyone who doesn't want to see a CG James Dean wandering around in a film, or the myriad of actors who could have taken the role.
Maria Sova wrote the adaptation of Gareth Crocker's novel, which is based on the existence and abandonment of more than 10,000 military dogs at the end of the Vietnam War. The role that, "James Dean" is taking is that of Rogan, a secondary lead role.
It remains to be seen if this can work, though if we're honest, the words of one Ian Malcolm seem particularly apropro here.