The film “Looker” which was released in 1981 was the first time I had considered the use of Digital Avatars in film, which – back in the day, the term didn’t even exist. Written and directed by sci-fi legend Michael Crichton, the movie tells of a company buying the digital rights to models, but to scan the models they have to be perfect down the micro-millimeter. There is more to the movie but I will leave that for you to discover – the film is worth the watch.

The bottom line is that owning the rights to actors and creating digital characters is nothing new. And for directors like Alfred “actors are cattle” Hitchcock, not having to deal with actor egos would likely be a blessing.

Easier said than done. The idea of seamlessly using digital actors is more of a wish than a reality. There are countless failed attempts. Star Wars episodes 7, 8, and 9 comes to mind. All of their attempts, including Young Leia, always had the Uncanny Valley feel. Scorsese tried with limited success in “The Irishman”.

Recently a minor firestorm broke out when it was reported that Bruce Willis sold his “face” to a Russian deepfake company. His agent denied the story but the truth of it remains in question. And the idea that it might have happened – or could have happened might be the real story.

And now this brings us to Harrison Ford and his Indiana Jones. When rumors swirled of an Indiana Jones reboot starring Chris Pratt, it was Pratt himself who debunked the rumor. But that didn’t stop Ford from stating unequivocally that he is the one and only Indiana Jones. No one will ever play Indiana but Ford – ever.

It seemed an odd statement at the time. But now we have the new trailer for Indiana Jones 5 and the Dial of Destiny that heavily features Indiana at multiple ages. The digital use is obvious but cleaner and more fluid. Does it avoid the Uncanny Valley? That remains to be seen but one thing is clear – reboots of film franchises are never going to be the same. Ford will forever be Indiana Jones. Another actor may step in to play out the movements of Indiana but the wrapper will always be that of Harrison Ford, ageless.

Next up, Spielberg (who, for the first time, did not direct Indiana Jones 5) announced his next directorial effort, the “Untitled Frank Bullitt Project” starring Bradley Cooper. There is little information on the project other than it will continue the story of Steve McQueen’s character in the aptly titled “Bullitt”.

So what I now wonder – what if Bradley Cooper isn’t just playing Frank Bullitt.

What if: Bradley Cooper is playing Bullitt as Steve McQueen?

This would answer the question of what about a standard cop procedural might interest Spielberg.

A groundbreaking film starring a deceased movie star, reprising his most famous role, directed by a master of the craft.

Will this happen? It’s just my speculation – a dream perhaps.

But if it does?

It would be legendary, groundbreaking, and most certainly the first major step in a new era of filmmaking.