Elvis' Return to the Stage as AI Holographic Garners Mixed Reactions from Fans
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Elvis Presley is the latest music icon to be immortalized with the help of AI.
The UK's leading immersive specialist, Layered Reality, is gearing up to launch a brand new show like never before: Elvis Evolution, where fans will be able to see holographic projections of the late singer for an immersive concert experience.
The new show will feature a life-sized digital version of Elvis, created from thousands of personal photos and home video footage of the late star. Elvis fans can expect to witness some of his most iconic performances as if they were really there, as well as some of the defining moments in his life and career—all thanks to a unique blend of technology, augmented reality, theater, projection and multi-sensory effects.
"It's going to be a joyous celebration of Elvis's life; the man, the music, and his cultural legacy," Layered Reality founder and chief executive Andrew McGuinness told Reuters, noting that audiences will be taken on a journey from his birthplace of Tupelo, Miss., to Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., to Las Vegas, Nev.
"The crescendo of the experience is an AI performance by Elvis," McGuinness added.
But while the immersive entertainment company is surely excited about the new experience, Elvis fans are having mixed reactions to the news, with some feeling like the project is a little distasteful.
"Well thats disturbing," one person wrote on X, while someone else wondered, "How is this very impressive yet also terrifying."
"nobody asked for this," another person pointed out.
"They make more money off these artists when they pass. Sick," someone else wrote, while another user urged, "Let the man rest omg."
Other fans were more excited about the possibility of seeing the King of Rock 'n' Roll in AI form, especially those who never got to see him play live prior to his death in 1977.
"This is kinda cool!" one X user wrote. "I'd love to have seen Elvis live, so why not see if this compares?"
"That will be amazing," another optimistic fan added.
The show is expected to kickoff in Central London in Nov. 2024, with multiple cities to follow.
Next: Priscilla Presley and Sofia Coppola Team up to Bring the Story of Elvis' Wife to the Big Screen
