Troy Baker as Indy shows you don’t need to ‘steal actors’ souls’ with AI, Harrison Ford says
Baker’s portrayal of Indiana Jones suggests there’s no need for AI performances, says Ford
Troy Baker’s performance as Indiana Jones is proof that AI isn’t necessary to keep some characters alive, Harrison Ford says.
Baker played the iconic adventurer in last year’s Xbox and PC release Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which is coming to PS5 this year.
While Indy’s appearance in the game is based on that of Ford, his voice and motion capture were instead provided by Baker.
Now, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Ford has suggested that Baker’s performance is the perfect answer to those who feel AI can be used in the future to create new performances from actors who have either retired or passed away.
The publication asked Ford whether he was taking precautions to make sure digital AI versions of him wouldn’t still be appearing in movies after he had died, particularly because his recent roles in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Captain America: Brave New World involved capturing his appearance to turn him into a younger Indy and the Red Hulk respectively.
Ford replied that there was no need to use AI to artificially create new performances, because there are other ways to continue his characters.
“You don’t need artificial intelligence to steal my soul,” Ford explained. “You can already do it for nickels and dimes with good ideas and talent.”
Then, referring to Baker’s performance as Indy, he added: “He did a brilliant job, and it didn’t take AI to do it.”
Further reading
VGC’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review made note of Baker’s performance, saying: “The greatest compliment that we can pay him is that the only way you’d know it wasn’t Harrison Ford is the fact that Ford is 82 years old.”
“Baker’s impression is so good that to call it an impression feels unfair, it is a faultless performance,” we wrote. “The serious side, the sarcastic side, everything about Indy in The Great Circle is exactly how it should be. It all contributes to the feeling that Indiana Jones in The Great Circle really is the lost sixth Indy film.”
