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You won't see a Robin Williams hologram until at least 2039

You won't see a Robin Williams hologram until at least 2039

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Legal provisions stop the late comic appearing in adverts or films

By James Vincent, a senior reporter who has covered AI, robotics, and more for eight years at The Verge.

Source Hollywood Reporter

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From Tupac's performance as a hologram at Coachella to Audrey Hepburn's CGI advert for Galaxy chocolate, it's become increasingly common for stars to make digital reappearances after they die. Some celebrities, however, are taking steps to prevent this posthumous exploitation, with recently uncovered documents showing Robin Williams to be among their number.

no films, adverts, or holographic stand-up

The late comic left provisions restricting the use of his likeness for 25 years after his death, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This means that there won't be any films, adverts, or holographic stand-up gigs featuring Williams' voice or image until at least August 11th, 2039. In life, of course, Williams happily appeared in a few adverts (including a memorable spot for Nintendo alongside his daughter Zelda). But these canny legal restrictions ensure there will be no crass attempts to cash in on the goodwill he created in life.

"It's interesting that Williams restricted use for 25 years," Laura Zwicker, an attorney responsible for handling the estates of rich individuals, told The Hollywood Reporter. "I haven't seen that before. I've seen restrictions on the types of uses — no Coke commercials for example — but not like this. It could be a privacy issue."

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