On the podcast «On With Kara Swisher» (via Variety) Robert Downey Jr. was quite categorical about Hollywood’s use of artificial intelligence technologies to create «digital likenesses» real actors.
Initially, he said he doubted that Marvel would ever do something like this with his image:
«Regarding the MCU, I’m not worried about them stealing my character’s image. There are three or four people there who make all the decisions, and they would never do it with or without me».
However, when the host brought the optimistic Downey back to reality, he promised to «sue any executives» who would try to create a digital version of him — even from the grave (adding that lawyers would be active even after his death).
«I don’t envy those who have been overly identified with the arrival of this new phase of the information age. The idea that it somehow belongs to them because they have super-sized startups is a mistake,» Downey said, referring to tech CEOs like OpenAI’s Sam Altman. «The problem is that these individuals believe they are the judges of how this technology is managed. It puts me off talking to them, they are not honest».
It should be noted that Disney, for example, has already filed a lawsuit in a similar situation — when the image of the late Peter Cushing (Wilhoof Tarkin) «was resuscitated» for the film «Rogue One. Star Wars. A Story».
It is not known how Marvel will react to Downey’s words, but they are planning a very fruitful cooperation: the actor will return to the movie universe in the upcoming movie «Avengers: Doomsday», but in the role of Dr. Doom, not Iron Man.