Star Wars Gallery S2:E2 Talks An Awful Lot About Deepfake

As many of you know, Deepfake refers to a technology that replaces a recorded likeness with a different likeness. Using massive image libraries of the desired likeness, computers determine how to map the recorded likeness to the intended result. This is not the technology that was used to bring us Luke Skywalker in the Season 2 finale of The Mandalorian. Instead, the more familiar technology of "de-aging" was used, which John Favreau describes as digital airbrushing.

Despite the fact that Deepfake was not used, the Gallery "making of" documentary for the finale spends a curious amount of time discussing it. Furthermore, you may have read that Lucasfilm hired the YouTuber who used deepfake to improve 'The Mandalorian'. While this technique is not where Lucasfilm is now, it is abundantly clear that it's where they are going. Then Jon Favreau himself offers this attention grabbing quote during the documentary:

We still have a few years before [Deepfake] really gets indistinguishable, but I'm telling you, it will get to the point where you can't tell [the Deepfaked performance and actual performance] apart.

In a relatively short time horizon, he's predicting that 100% photo real performances will be achievable with this technology. The only conceivable use for Lucasfilm is to create new performances of the Original Trilogy chore characters in a timeline when they are required to be younger. Furthermore, Favreau drops the tidbit that Luke's lines of dialog were completely synthetic using the Respeecher voice cloning software. So even with the unfortunate passing of Ms. Fisher, a performance of Princess Leia could be created with a synthesized voice.

One thing for which I will never forgive Disney is that fact that the Original Trilogy core were never seen on screen together, and happy. They were all separated, and living in various states of miserable. Han was a recidivist petty criminal, undoing one of the best character arcs in cinema history. Leia lost the love of her live and her son. Luke was a curmudgeonly recluse. It goes beyond poor writing. It feels intentional, mean-spirited and spiteful, and I don't get it. It almost seems like the plot of an 80's comedy where the rich antagonist buys the protagonist's family home, just so he can tear it down in front of him. They don't even want it. They just derive pleasure from the pain caused by destroying it. Come to think of it, I may be describing Happy Gilmore. Disney is Shooter McGavin.

With the tragic and untimely passing of Carrie Fisher, it seemed like this sin could never be redeemed, but maybe the new LFL is exploring technology that could bring balance to the universe by recreating the indomitable team of Luke, Leia, Lando and Han. They are, in no particular order, my most favorite characters ever.

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