“Friends” actress Lisa Kudrow criticized the movie “Here” – starring Tom Hanks – for using de-aging technology, which could put young actors out of work.
According to PageSix on December 16, in the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard , Lisa Kudrow said she disagreed with the way the Here crew handled the project. The film, directed by Robert Zemeckis, revolves around the lives of characters living on the same piece of land, from the past to the present.
Trailer “Here”. Video: Sony Pictures
The crew used anti-aging effects on Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in some scenes to make them look younger than their actual ages. According to Variety , Here is competing with 20 other films for the 2025 Oscar shortlist for Best Visual Effects.
“What I see is a push for AI,” Kudrow said. “I’m concerned about the future of emerging actors, where their likeness is going to be reused and copied forever. If jobs are shrinking, what other opportunities are going to be available to them? Or is there going to be some kind of subsidy where you don’t have to work?”
Many viewers supported Kudrow’s views. Reader Michael John Brooks wrote: “She’s right. It raises the question of how far AI will go.” Wen commented: “I think anything that replaces human interaction destroys the good values that help develop communities.”
Lisa Kudrow on the podcast ” Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” airing Dec. 11. Photo: Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Anti-aging technology in movies has been around for a long time, used in a number of films such as Ant-Mant 3 , Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , The Irishman . In Indiana Jones 5 (2023), a team of more than 100 artists at Industrial Light and Magic spent three years working on the visual effects, including developing anti-aging technology to create the ILM FaceSwap software, which transformed the face of 82-year-old actor Harrison Ford to look 40 years younger.
Tom Hanks has made headlines several times for his statements about artificial intelligence (AI). In May 2023, he said on the Adam Buxton podcast that his performances could be sustained with the help of AI, even after the actor’s death.
“Anyone can recreate themselves at any age through AI or deepfake technology. Without a deep understanding of AI and deepfake, you can’t tell which is me and which is a clone. That’s an artistic and legal challenge,” Hanks explains.
Tom Hanks in the movie “Here” (left) and in real life. Photo: Sony Pictures/US Weekly
Other stars have also expressed their views on AI in the entertainment industry. In a July 2023 event, Arnold Schwarzenegger feared that the events of The Terminator could happen in real life, when machines rebelled against humans. Terminator first appeared in 1984, revolving around the story of the Terminator robot ( played by Arnold Schwarzenegger ). He was sent from the future back to the 1980s to kill Sarah Connor – who would give birth to a hero to save humanity from being taken over by artificial intelligence. In December of the same year, rapper and actor Ice-T said he was ready to cooperate with AI in his work.
Lisa Kudrow , 61, is best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in Friends . The character is optimistic and strong, and is the “catalyst” for the group’s friendship. She lives freely and thinks against stereotypes – like carrying her half-brother’s pregnancy. According to Rolling Stone , Kudrow once said that the character helped her become more comfortable and relaxed compared to her rigid personality in real life. She married advertising executive Michel Stern in 1995 and has a son.
Tom Hanks , 68, is a powerful figure in the world of cinema. In addition to being an actor, he has developed his career in many roles such as director, screenwriter, and producer. He received his first Oscar for the film Philadelphia (1993). The role of Forrest Gump in the film of the same name brought the actor his second consecutive Oscar for Best Actor.
In addition to two Oscars, he has received six Emmy Awards from 12 nominations and four Golden Globe Awards. In 2014, US President Obama presented the actor with the Kennedy Center Honors for his contributions to American culture.
