James Dean to star in new film... 64 years after he died

FIFTIES movie heartthrob James Dean is to star in a new film about the Vietnam War – even though he died 64 years ago.

News that a computer-generated Dean – who played the lead in Rebel Without A Cause in 1955 – has a co-starring role in the film Finding Jack was criticised last night. The digital Dean is to be assembled from old footage and photos and voiced by another actor.

Digitally manipulated posthumous performances have made some inroads into films, but have largely been roles the actors already played, including Carrie Fisher and Peter Cushing, who first appeared together in Star Wars and were prominently featured in the 2016 spin-off Rogue One.

But the prospect of one of Hollywood’s most famous former stars being digitally resurrected was met with anger.

Captain America star Chris Evans was among those who called the plans disrespectful, tweeting: ‘Maybe we can get a computer to paint us a new Picasso. Or write a couple new John Lennon tunes.

‘The complete lack of understanding here is shameful.’

Dean, pictured, had just three leading roles before he died in a car crash in 1955 at the age of 24 – Rebel Without A Cause, East Of Eden and Giant.

The rights to his likeness were acquired by the filmmakers from CMG Worldwide, which represents the actor’s family along with the intellectual property rights for other dead celebrities including Neil Armstrong, Bette Davis and Burt Reynolds.

CMG chairman Mark Roesler defended the practice, pointing out that a Dean Instagram account had more than 183,000 followers. He added: ‘James Dean said, “If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live after he’s died, then maybe he was a great man. Immortality is the only true success”. What was considered rebellious in the Fifties is very different than what is rebellious today, and we feel confident that he would support this modern day act of rebellion.’

Directors Anton Ernst and Tati Golykh begin shooting on November 17. Adapted from a novel by Gareth Crocker, Finding Jack depicts America’s abandonment of dog units following the Vietnam War.