00:00Following the James Dean CGI casting controversy,
00:03the director of the film is speaking out.
00:05When director Anton Erst and his co-director
00:07announced earlier this week
00:08that their Vietnam War
00:10era drama Finding Jack,
00:11based on the novel of the same name,
00:13was casting the late actor to
00:15play a prominent character through CGI,
00:17social media erupted with backlash.
00:20Actor Chris Evans even called the decision shameful.
00:22Now, Ernst is opening up to The Hollywood Reporter
00:24about the
00:25criticisms on social media,
00:26saying he was saddened and confused
00:28over the overwhelmingly
00:30negative comments.
00:31He said,
00:32We don't really understand it.
00:33We never intended for this to be a
00:35marketing gimmick.
00:36Ernst revealed he and his co-director
00:37did audition live actors to play the role of Rogan.
00:40but ultimately decided
00:41Dean was the perfect fit for the part.
00:43Magic City Films obtained the rights to use
00:45Dean's image from his living relatives,
00:47represented by CMG Worldwide.
00:49Ernst said that Dean's
00:50estate, which is run by two cousins
00:52on the late actor's father's side,
00:53has been supportive of the film
00:55and believes they would not have expected
00:57such a backlash to occur.
00:58According to the director,
00:59I think they would
01:00wanted their family members' legacy to live on.
01:02That's what we've done here as well.
01:04We've brought a whole new
01:05generation of film goers to be aware of James Dean.
01:07And when asked about whether resurrecting Dean
01:09digitally
01:10crosses a line with regards to posthumous casting,
01:12Ernst explained,
01:13anyone that is brought back to life
01:15you have to respect them.
01:16I think the line should be,
01:17you must always honor the deceased's wishes
01:19and try to
01:20to act in a way that is honorable
01:21and full of dignity.
01:22For more on this story,
01:23head to THR.com.
01:24Until now,
01:25until next time for The Hollywood Reporter News,
01:27I'm Tiffany Taylor.
01:30I'm Tiffany Taylor.
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