Sir Laurence Olivier was the first actor to be posthumously returned for a major film role using archival footage, appearing in 2004’s *Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow*, 15 years after his death. The article frames the decision as an early example of the ethical unease now surrounding AI and digital effects in filmmaking, particularly concerns about authenticity and using deceased performers’ likenesses.

Olivier played the film’s villain, Dr Totenkopf, appearing briefly in hologram form after being built up throughout the story. Co-star Jude Law defended the choice on the grounds that Olivier’s stature suited the role, but critics at the time found it unsettling; the article argues that the same objections continue to shape debates over AI in the arts.