#SHOWBIZ: Joey Wong makes comeback with AI version of her iconic role
HONG KONG: It's been 22 years since Joey Wong retired from showbiz, but fans will finally get to see the screen goddess on their screens again.
After a 22-year hiatus from the entertainment industry, Hong Kong actress Joey Wong is making a triumphant return, all thanks to cutting-edge AI technology. Taiwanese-born Wong, also known as Mary Wong Jo Yin in her early days, has granted permission for her AI-generated likeness to be used in Tianxia, a game developed by Chinese internet technology company NetEase.
To commemorate the occasion, Tianxia has unveiled a promotional short film titled "Qian Ying," which expertly recaptures Joey's youthful beauty from her golden era in the 20s and 30s. Most notably, the film resurrects her legendary role as Nie Xiaoqian in the classic 1987 supernatural romance "A Chinese Ghost Story."
This groundbreaking project has been hailed as the first AI-generated commercial in the gaming industry, with full authorization from a celebrity. It's also the first time a Hong Kong film star has granted full commercial rights to an AI-generated version of her face. Alongside the promotional video, Joey's AI likeness will appear as a digital NPC within the game, and players will be able to obtain a free limited-edition in-game costume named "Qian Ying You Hun," a nod to her iconic role in "A Chinese Ghost Story."
However, the announcement has sparked a heated debate among netizens. While some supporters applaud the decision as a sensible way for veteran actors like Wong to continue earning income without returning to acting, others argue that while the technology can faithfully reproduce her facial features, it fails to capture the unique grace, charisma, and presence that made her performances unforgettable.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
