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Layered Reality, creators of the forthcoming immersive experience ‘Elvis Evolution’, have signed a strategic partnership with Technicolor Group, home of The Mill, to create a realistic Elvis avatar powered by artificial intelligence
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 04 Jul 2024
Elvis is set to return to the stage as an AI-powered avatar Credit: Betmann Archive
Layered Reality, the company behind the posthumous return of Elvis Presley to the stage, has signed a strategic partnership with Technicolor Group, home of The Mill to bring the AI-powered creation to life.
The Mill is one of the earliest pioneers of VFX for icon replacements, winning a BAFTA and Oscar for its work on the movie Gladiator. Working with Layered Reality, the company will partner on multiple projects, including using AI to create “the most realistic and authentic version of Elvis”.
Called Elvis Evolution, the show is coming to London in November and will feature a life-sized, state-of-the-art holographic projection of Elvis, created from thousands of personal photos and archive home videos.
Created as a celebration of the artist’s life and musical legacy, Elvis Evolution will also combine augmented reality with multi-sensory effects and live performances to create a never-before-seen Elvis experience.
“The Mill has a history of being pioneers, innovators and world-class artists,” said Simon Reveley, head of Layered Reality Studio.
“We’re thrilled to work with them, utilising the latest in artificial intelligence to deliver more for our audiences. The integration of AI into The Mill’s arsenal of world-class VFX tools, in the hands of their global network of award-winning artists, will help us deliver truly magical moments; the kind of moments that take your breath away.”
Elvis Evolution will be housed inside a yet-to-be-announced venue in Central London and will also offer an Elvis-themed bar and restaurant that will host an after-party with live music, DJ sets and other live performances.
Layered Reality owns the global rights to Elvis Evolution and plans to take the show around the world, with stops planned in Las Vegas, US; Berlin, Germany; and Tokyo, Japan, following its London launch.
“We are very excited about the potential for our partnership with Layered Reality and helping to put Elvis back in the building,” said Mark Benson, president, The Mill.
“We are tasked with bringing Elvis back digitally by collecting and ingesting images and film archive clips to train AI models on Elvis’s face so we can recreate famous Elvis live performances. The Mill’s outstanding creative and tech talent will once again push the boundaries of what is possible, to deliver an extraordinary, authentic and thrilling theatrical event.”
Elvis Evolution follows in the footsteps of ABBA Voyage, a hybrid virtual and real-life performance developed by George Lucas’ special effect company Industrial Light & Magic. The show, which opened in Stratford, East London, in 2022, uses motion capture technology to capture “every mannerism and every motion” of the band, who are now in their 70s, as they performed, before creating their ‘ABBAtars’.
Similarly, glam rock legends Kiss recently unveiled a set of digital alter egos that they promise will “change music performance history”. Also, created by Industrial Light & Magic, the Kiss avatars combine advanced performance capture and machine learning technology. The band has also appointed Pophouse Entertainment Group, which will continue to champion the band in a physical format with a live avatar show.
Technology
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