Stan Lee's AI Hologram: Comic-Con's Latest Marvel?
Next week's Los Angeles Comic Con is set to feature a somewhat unusual guest: an AI hologram of the legendary Stan Lee. You know, the mastermind behind so many of our beloved Marvel characters. According to reports, this hologram will be a part of the Stan Lee Experience at the convention.
If you're planning to attend, accessing the booth will cost you between $15 and $20. However, if you want to take a selfie with the hologram or engage in a three-minute conversation with it, you'll have to shell out even more.
The hologram was brought to life by Proto Hologram, the same company that created an interactive mirror for malls to promote "The Conjuring: Last Rites," along with HyperReal, a virtual production company. I guess they're trying to bring Stan back to life in some way, even if it's just a digital representation.
Bob Sabouni, head of Stan Lee Legacy Programs, assures us that the hologram won't say anything that Stan himself wouldn't have said during his lifetime. He claims that they are building a voice that stays true to his spirit and intent, even if it's not always word for word. It's a noble intention, but can you truly capture someone's essence in a hologram?
However, it's hard to forget that Stan Lee passed away in late 2018. I can't help but feel a bit uneasy about this. Remember the reports of people in his social circle trying to take advantage of his success in his final months? It just feels like this hologram falls into that same category. He can't give his consent now, and that's something that bothers me.
Chris DeMoulin, CEO of LACC's parent company, Kamikaze Entertainment, shared that he worked with Stan in the 2010s when LACC had a license deal with Stan's POW! company. He said he observed how much Stan loved interacting with fans, being on panels, and sharing the Marvel story. That's what motivated him to create this hologram representation of Stan.
According to DeMoulin, the hologram has been in development for several months and is "coming along great" in recent weeks. He believes that this is all about extending Stan's legacy, something that Stan himself talked about.
He added: "We know that this hologram isn't Stan, and can never be perfect. But we think it is fun, authentic, very accurate in terms of how it responds to questions, and gives the fans a look into who Stan was, kind of [like] an IRL documentary."
Source: Gizmodo