Alain Dorval will continue voicing Sylvester Stallone even after death

In France, a significant development in film dubbing has emerged following the death of actor Alain Dorval in February 2024. For fifty years, Dorval served as the official French voice of actor Sylvester Stallone, a collaboration that became iconic among French-speaking audiences. With the loss of Dorval, his estate sought innovative solutions to preserve this unique partnership. They turned to ElevenLabs, a British AI start-up, which specializes in voice cloning technology. This decision appears to be influenced by a growing trend in the film industry to use AI to create experiential continuity for audiences after the original voices are no longer available. The upcoming thriller film featuring Sylvester Stallone, titled Armor, showcases this technological advancement. In this film, Stallone portrays the leader of a criminal gang, attempting to execute a heist on a heavily guarded armored van transporting a significant amount of gold. The film is set to be released on Amazon in France, which will allow viewers to experience Stallone's dialogue ingeniously dubbed using the AI-generated voice of the late Alain Dorval. This not only maintains the authenticity of Stallone's character but also honors the long-standing partnership between the two actors that audiences cherished. The use of AI voice cloning raises various ethical questions about digital resurrection in the entertainment industry and how far technology should go in reinventing artistry after an actor's death. While some consumers appreciate the idea of maintaining continuity in filmmaking and honoring beloved figures, others express concerns regarding the implications of such tech-based solutions. Critics worry about the loss of authenticity and the potential exploitation of artists who can no longer consent to their voices being replicated. Such dilemmas become especially pertinent as technology continues to advance, blurring the lines between human performance and artificial replication. As the release date approaches, discussions around this approach are anticipated to intensify within the media and film dialogue. The legacy of Alain Dorval persists, and while his physical presence is no longer with us, his voice will carry on through this modern innovation. The industry now faces the challenge of reconciling nostalgia and technological progress as it navigates through this new era of film production.