New Robert Zemeckis Film Made Using AI
“Here”, the new film from acclaimed director Robert Zemeckis, heavily utilizes AI technology to de-age Tom Hanks and Robin Wright.
In a bold leap into the future of filmmaking, Here, directed by Robert Zemeckis and released by TriStar Pictures, has pushed the boundaries of visual effects by using real-time generative AI to de-age Tom Hanks and Robin Wright throughout a time span of 60 years. This $50 million production, adapted from the 2014 graphic novel of the same name, relies on AI-powered transformation instead of multiple actors or extensive makeup to portray its stars in various eras. This decision makes Here one of the first full-length Hollywood features to embrace AI-driven visual effects as a core part of its storytelling.
Set in a single New Jersey living room that unfolds over decades, the film takes an innovative approach to character aging and time shifts, using technology developed by Metaphysic, a visual effects company specializing in real-time face-swapping and age manipulation. The studio trained custom machine-learning models on thousands of images and frames from Hanks’ and Wright’s past work. By capturing their unique facial movements, skin textures, and appearance under various lighting and angles, Metaphysic’s AI can generate seamless transformations instantly—eliminating the need for months of labor-intensive CGI work.
Throughout the shoot, actors’ faces were modified in real-time, allowing the crew to monitor two versions of the scene: the actors' actual performances and their digitally transformed appearances as noted in the script. This technique, which relies on Metaphysic’s ability to instantly map facial landmarks to different age presets, offers a smoother alternative to traditional CGI methods, which would typically involve hundreds of visual effects artists and a budget far exceeding $50 million.
Zemeckis highlighted the unique timing of the film’s production, noting that even a few years ago, creating Here would have been nearly impossible without a massive budget more typical of a Marvel blockbuster. The speed and efficiency of Metaphysic’s AI de-aging approach mark a departure from prior techniques, such as the de-aging of Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, where infrared cameras were used in addition to Ford’s old images to digitally recreate his younger self in postproduction. Unlike these methods, Metaphysic’s technology requires no additional hardware, working directly from standard cameras and generating results on set.
AI-driven de-aging isn’t exclusive to Here. Two 2024 releases—Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Alien: Romulus—also employ Metaphysic’s technology to resurrect iconic characters, including the late Richard Carter’s role in Furiosa and Ian Holm’s character from the original Alien. These recreations required careful approval, in accordance with California legislation governing AI-based portrayals of deceased actors, typically referred to as "deepfakes."
While the technology excites many, it has also sparked criticism about the future of job safety. Despite concerns, Hollywood’s demand for AI tools to recreate actors and manipulate age continues to rise, as studios increasingly rely on technology to bring stories to life in ways that were once confined to the imagination.