The king of rock ‘n’ roll will come to life with artificial intelligence (AI) in a brand-new immersive event that will debut in central London later this year, according to organizers who released the information on Thursday.
“Elvis Evolution”, featuring a life-size digital Elvis performing on stage, is designed to be the first of a series of shows in cities including Las Vegas, Tokyo and Berlin.
AI, holographic projections, augmented reality, live theater, and multisensory effects were used by the British company Layered Reality to create the spectacular, which honored the singer’s life and legacy.
It says it has reached an agreement with Authentic Brands Group, the company that owns his estate, and will present performances never before seen thanks to access to thousands of personal images and home video recordings.
The program was dubbed “a next-generation tribute to the musical legend that is Elvis Presley” by Layered Reality CEO Andrew McGuinness.
“Elvis maintains superstar status globally and people around the world no longer want to sit there and passively receive entertainment — they want to be a part of it,” he added.
The show, which is slated to debut in November, will follow Elvis Presley’s ascent to stardom and his cultural relevance throughout the 1950s and 1960s through song, technology, and storytelling.
Authentic Brands Group’s president of entertainment, Marc Rosen, said that it will provide fans with “a new, immersive way of experiencing Elvis Presley’s life and legacy”.
In 1977, at the age of 42, Presley, one of the best-selling musicians of all time, passed away at his Graceland residence in Memphis, Tennessee.
“Elvis Evolution” comes after the success of Swedish supergroup ABBA’s “ABBA Voyage” digital avatar show, which opened at a purpose-built venue in east London in May 2022.
Bloomberg reported in September last year that it has sold more than 1.5 million tickets, generating more than $150 million.
