Good news, Bruce Willis is making a return to the screen where he has the potential to continue on as a movie star for centuries to come. The recently-retired actor has sold his digital likeness to firm Deepcake.

The company now has the rights to use Willis' face, which means that (based on current technology) an actors performance will be captured on film, with Willis' face layered in over the top of that actor in post-production.

It opens the door to Die Hard sequels and prequels. And more Moonlighting (would Cybill Shepherd ever sign away her face likeness? I'm sure they can get Booger to do it).

It does make me wonder how many stars of yesteryear will sign away their digital likeness and how that will impact the legacy of these actors as we continue to see them on screen in perpetuity. Do they remain vital screen performers, relegating those stars who don't sign away their rights to be largely forgotten after a few generations? Or can a digital faced star simply wear out their welcome?

Deepfake tech allows Bruce Willis to return to the screen without ever being on set
Die Hard star, who stepped away from acting after an aphasia diagnosis, sold his rights to allow a ‘digital twin’ of himself to be created
The TelegraphNick Allen

Get ready for AI video

If you're like me (first of all, congratulations), you are still waiting to be granted DALL-E access to play around with the text to image artificial intelligence generator. Meta have already moved to the next step by announcing their text to video generator.

The videos are a bit blurred and jerkily animated. But hello to a new dawn.

All of these videos were generated by an AI system that our team at Meta built. We call it Make-A-Video. You give it a...

Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday, September 29, 2022

AMC+ launches properly in Australia

AMC+ has been available in Australia as an Amazon and Apple TV+ channel, but never had a dedicated app. Ahead of the launch of the rather good Interview With The Vampire, the streamer has launched its dedicated app. There's also an introductory price of $4.99 per month.

AMC+ gives access not only to what is a small, but quite remarkable set of really strong shows, but also offers access to Shudder and Accorn TV. It's a pretty good deal.

AMC+ available as direct-to-consumer app - IF Magazine
AMC Networks has launched a direct-to-consumer app for the premium streaming bundle AMC+ in Australia.
IF MagazineSean Slatter

Apple TV+ sets returning dates

Coming up on the frutiest streamer of all:

Slow Horses (season 2) - Dec 2
The Mosquito Coast (season 2) - Nov 4
Mythic Quest (season 3) - Nov 11
Little America (season 2) - Dec 9
Shantaram (movie) - Oct 14
Causeway (movie) - Nov 4
Selena Gomez: My Life and Me (documentary) - Nov 4

  • In a wonderfully silly PR stunt, CBS is launching the new season of comedy Ghosts by screening it in multiple empty cinemas for any ghosts haunting the local area to come and enjoy it. Read: Variety
  • The BBC will axe 382 jobs amid changes to the BBC World Service across radio and TV. Read: THR
  • Charmaine Bingwa, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Tony Kgoroge, Sindi Dlathu, and Bahle Hadebe will star in Showtime Drama Series King Shaka. Read: thefutoncritic
  • Google is shutting down cloud-based gaming platform Stadia, offering full refunds on hardware and digital purchases. Read: The Verge
  • Alisa Bowen has been appointed the President of Disney+. Read: Variety

Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke star in Apple TV+ film Raymond & Ray, which debuts on the streamer Oct 21.

AMC have released this trailer for the final batch of episodes of The Walking Dead as the show returns Oct 3.

That's it for today. And the week. The newsletter will be back on Monday. Always Be Streaming will be in your inbox later today.