Adele Ankers-Range is a senior writer at MovieWeb with bylines at IGN, Sideshow Collectibles, Screen Rant, and more. A self-confessed cinephile and physical media collector, she spends more time alphabetizing her collection than she would care to admit. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Film & Media Studies, she set about sharing her words with the world, covering film and pop culture across major outlets.
Stan Lee had a long and celebrated history with conventions, and his legacy has continued to be observed at these events in the years since his death. The organizers of L.A. Comic Con, which is returning next weekend with its 14th annual function, have announced an interactive “Stan Lee Experience” featuring an AI-powered hologram of the late Marvel icon. Attendees will be able to pay a fee to pose for photos and participate in AI conversations with the hologram. However, the entire concept is already proving controversial with fans, with some expressing excitement while others are finding it disrespectful and exploitative.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Stan Lee Experience carries a price tag of $15-$20, depending on whether tickets are purchased in advance or on the day of the event. Those who opt in for the interaction will gain entry to a 1,500ft enclosed booth, where they will have the opportunity to take photos or have a three-minute conversation with the hologram. Former Marvel executive Bob Sabouni, who oversees the Stan Lee Legacy Programs for Kartoon Studios, has assured fans that the Stan Lee hologram will offer a “faithful” engagement that aligns with Lee’s thoughts and views. He explained in a statement:
“We’ll never put words in his mouth that aren’t in line with things he spoke about in his lifetime. Fortunately, with decades of footage capturing his thoughts on so many subjects, we can build a voice that stays true, not always word for word, but always faithful in spirit, context, and intent.”
The Stan Lee hologram comes courtesy of Proto Hologram — a company that is known for “its epic life-sized hologram device which is so realistic it seems as if there is actually a person there.” The technology has been used for a range of media tie-ins, including interactive displays for The Conjuring and A Minecraft Movie, which popped up in various malls across the United States for promotional purposes. Jimmy Kimmel also previously pranked Guardians of the Galaxy fans with a Chris Pratt hologram, which, unbeknownst to them, was a 3D image of the MCU actor projected live from the late-night talk show’s studio.
The Stan Lee Experience Has Divided Marvel Fans
More to come…
