Warner Music Plans an Edith Piaf Biopic with AI

Warner Music Group announced a biopic project to recreate the voice and image of French singer Edith Piaf with AI technologies.

Warner Music has announced its plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) to produce a biopic about the legendary French singer Edith Piaf, titled “Edith.” This move comes nearly 60 years after Piaf's death and amidst Hollywood's growing engagement with AI, a topic that has stirred considerable debate within the entertainment industry, especially highlighted in the recent writers’ and actors’ strikes and the following deal terms.

This 90-minute biopic, set to traverse the iconic locales of Paris and New York from the 1920s through the 1960s, delving into the life of the singer known as the "Sparrow of Paris," who passed away in 1963. The film, narrated by an AI-generated version of Piaf's voice, is set to unveil new insights into her life and the sides unknown to the public. “Edith” will merge animated sequences with a rich array of archival materials, including Piaf's stage and television performances, personal recordings, and interviews. 

This blend promises to give viewers a deeply authentic and multifaceted portrait of Piaf's life and career. Warner Music Entertainment, partnering with Seriously Happy for production, has already developed a proof of concept and is in talks with studios to produce the full-length feature. The use of AI, trained on a vast collection of Piaf’s vocal recordings and images, some of which are over eighty years old, is expected to authentically recreate her unique voice and likeness. 

In line with the newly established SAG-AFTRA guidelines, the project has received consent from an authorized representative of Piaf’s estate to use her digital replica. The executors of Piaf’s estate have expressed their enthusiasm for the project, noting the technology's ability to authentically bring the singer's presence back to life.

The project is particularly noteworthy against the backdrop of the animation industry, where AI's potential to reduce labor and time requirements has been both a cause for excitement and concern. Jeffrey Katzenberg, a former Disney executive and co-founder of DreamWorks, has noted the dramatic reduction in the labor required to make animated films, a statement that resonates with the ongoing transformations in the industry.

Responding to these changes, The Animation Guild has established a task force to investigate the implications of AI and machine learning, aiming to provide guidance and recommendations to its members. This initiative reflects the industry's effort to navigate the evolving landscape of digital technology while preserving the rights and artistic integrity of professionals.