KUALA LUMPUR — Hong Kong actor Lawrence Ng said he has licensed the rights to his younger likeness to a production company, which used artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate his 20-year-old appearance for an upcoming film.
Ng, 62, disclosed the project during a promotional event for his new drama, Deadly Sins. He said the production digitally recreated his younger appearance without requiring him to film any scenes.
“They used what I looked like at 20 to make a movie. I didn’t have to film anything,” Ng said, adding that he was satisfied with the final result.
According to Singapore-based entertainment news portal 8days, Ng said the project allowed him to portray a leading role again and provided him with substantial compensation.
Asked whether AI poses a threat to actors, Ng said he believes the technology could create new opportunities for the film industry.
“In the future, I can sit down without filming anything and still get the job done. Even if I break my legs, I won’t have to worry,” he said.
Ng said he is not concerned about the possible misuse of his likeness because his agreement with the production company is covered by a comprehensive contract.
Ng began his acting career in 1986 and is best known for his role in the TVB medical drama Healing Hands. He has also appeared in ICAC Investigators 1996, The Hippocratic Crush II and The Men of Justice, among other television series.
