AI vs. The Voice of Stallone: French Dubbers Fight to Protect Their Legacy

In Europe, there’s a lively discussion about AI and voice-dubbing, ignited by an effort to replicate the legendary French voice of Sylvester Stallone using artificial intelligence. This debate has brought into focus a rising worry among professional dubbers: the potential for AI to displace their roles.

For more than five decades, French viewers had come to recognize Sylvester Stallone’s powerful voice as that of Alain Dorval, the actor who provided the dubbing for him in films like ‘Rocky,’ ‘Rambo,’ ‘Creed,’ and ‘The Expendables.’ However, following Dorval’s passing in February 2024, a British company named ElevenLabs revealed their intention to employ AI technology to replicate Dorval’s voice for the French version of Stallone’s upcoming heist thriller, ‘Armor,’ on Amazon France.

Dorval’s daughter, Aurore Bergé (who is France’s Minister for Gender Equality), was enraged by this action. She asserted that she hadn’t granted approval for the artificial intelligence-generated voice to be utilized. However, she acknowledged having given clearance solely for a trial version.

Jimmy Shuman, from the French actors’ guild SFA, stated that it had certainly caused a stir. He pointed out that Dorval was vehemently against AI voiceovers during his career. “Using Dorval’s voice felt like a deliberate provocation,” he explained, “as we are currently discussing terms for AI limitations and dubbing.

In the heart of the cinematic world, I find myself contemplating a shift that’s stirring the foundations of the acting industry – particularly among voice actors in Europe. The emergence of AI-generated voices is becoming a formidable force, posing a significant challenge to thousands of professionals who have honed their craft over years.

In countries like France, Italy, and Spain, where dubbing is an integral part of the film industry, this development could potentially upend the status quo. Unlike in the U.S., where subtitles are prevalent, these nations rely heavily on dubbing, elevating voice actors to near-celebrity status akin to their Hollywood counterparts they bring to life on screen.

This transformation is not just a change in technology, but a potential redefinition of the acting landscape as we know it.

As per Business Research Insights’ projections, the worldwide film dubbing market was estimated at approximately $4.04 billion in 2024 and is projected to surpass $7 billion by 2033. The growing popularity of streaming platforms like Netflix has fueled the demand for dubbed content, making this industry increasingly crucial in today’s media landscape.

In nations where people tend to prefer dubbed content more than others, Italy stands out as a leader in defending voice actors from the influence of AI. According to Daniele Giuliani, president of Italy’s national association of dubbers, they have successfully implemented a contract provision that safeguards the vocal performances of actors.

When an Italian voice artist is engaged, their voice can exclusively be utilized for the particular task at hand, Giuliani explained. If a business wishes to synthesize their voice artificially for other purposes, a distinct agreement is required.

Instead of signing agreements with vague AI policies, Spanish voice actors have chosen not to collaborate with distributors unless they offer adequate protections. This stance has made the distributors realize the need for dialogue, as Sara Gómez Alonso, a Spanish voice actor, put it, “they’ve had to come down from their high pedestals and engage in discussions with us.

In a nutshell, Tim Friedlander – a voice actor from Los Angeles and head of the National Association of Voice Actors – views the “Voice of Stallone” case as evidence that performers often struggle to control their own voices. To put it another way, he’s expressing his worries about the limited power most voice actors currently have over their vocal talents, using this specific instance as an illustration.

To counteract the criticism, Amazon revealed that Michel Vigné, an experienced voice artist, will voice Stallone’s character in ‘Armor’, as opposed to using artificial intelligence. Thus, for the moment, the imminent danger of AI taking over the job of film dubbers has been temporarily averted.

Industry specialists caution that we’re only at the start of this journey. Shuman explained that while AI isn’t quite ready to completely take over from human dubbers now, it won’t be long before it can handle such tasks.

As artificial intelligence continues to progress swiftly, voice actors are preparing themselves for further challenges. It’s evident that this struggle is not about to end soon.

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2025-02-05 17:44