Warner Music announce AI-generated Edith Piaf biopic
Warner Music Group have announced plans to celebrate the life of the late legendary French singer Edith Piaf in a new biopic titled Edith.
The forthcoming 90-minute feature will be made in collaboration with Piaf’s estate and reflect upon her 40-year career as a recording artist. Unconventionally, Edith, which promises to” uncover aspects of her life that were previously unknown”, is set to be narrated by Piaf’s voice thanks to artificial intelligence. It will also feature AI-generated images of Path.
In a statement, Warner Music Group said: “Animation will provide a modern take on her story, while the inclusion of archival footage, stage and TV performances, personal footage and TV interviews will provide audiences with an authentic look at the significant moments of Piaf’s life.”
They have managed to make the AI technology replicate Piaf after extensive training and claim this method allows Edith to contain the musician’s “distinct voice and image to be revived to further enhance the authenticity and emotional impact of her story.”
The project has been written by Julie Veille, who derived the idea for the film, and Gilles Marliac. In a statement, Veille said: “It has been the greatest privilege to work alongside Edith’s estate to help bring her story into the 21st century. When creating the film, we kept asking ourselves, ‘If Edith were still with us, what messages would she want to convey to the younger generations?’”
She continues: “Her story is one of incredible resilience, of overcoming struggles, and defying social norms to achieve greatness – and one that is as relevant now as it was then. Our goal is to utilize the latest advancements in animation and technology to bring the timeless story to audiences of all ages.”
Meanwhile, Catherine Glavas and Christie Laume, executors of Edith Piaf’s estate, added: “It’s been a special and touching experience to be able to hear Edith’s voice once again — the technology has made it feel like we were back in the room with her. The animation is beautiful, and through this film, we’ll be able to show the real side of Edith — her joyful personality, her humour and her unwavering spirit.”
Alain Veille, CEO of Warner Music France, said: “Edith is one of France’s greatest ever artists, and she is still a source of so much pride to the French people. It is such a delicate balancing act when combining new technology with heritage artists, and it was imperative to us that we worked closely with Edith’s estate and handled this project with the utmost respect.”
At this stage, no release date has been provided for Edith.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.