Watch: Audrey Hepburn Is Back From The Dead & Selling Chocolate Bars In New Ad

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by Kevin Jagernauth
March 1, 2013 5:42 PM
12 Comments

Ever since Gene Kelly came boogie-woogie-ing back from the dead to shill for Volkswagen, the issue of whether or not the image/likeness of classic cinema stars should be used from beyond the grave to pimp products has been brought into the spotlight. While we haven't quite had a deluge (yet), it seems the estates of these icons need to find new revenue streams, and with visual effects moving in leaps and bounds, the folks collecting checks for Audrey Hepburn have been moving swiftly.

It was a few years ago that the actress was re-animated to sell clothes for Gap, and now she's been CGI-ed back to life to shill for Galaxy chocolate bars. Granted, the tech work is pretty well done, but the crass commercialism kind of takes our taste away from the silky, smooth chocolate (hey, guess the ad worked). Anyway, if you need more Audrey in your life watch below. [The Inspiration Room]

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12 Comments

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Tom | March 3, 2013 5:42 AMReply

Crass and tacky.
Michael M. | March 3, 2013 12:02 AMReply

Ladies and germs, I now introduce you to the latest groundbreaking development in propaganda capabilities! Oh the horror's this will unleash.
El Hanso | March 2, 2013 7:58 AMReply

This is wrong on so many levels. It's not just that the fact that they use a dead star to advertise their product. They artificially recreate Audrey Hepburn through computer technology (and probably a similar looking real actress with hair and make-up done).
Imagine, in a few years we could have a film with James Dean and Heath Ledger as the out-of-control sons of Grace Kelly and George Clooney. Or something like that. - Horrible.
iche | March 2, 2013 6:03 PM

I know you're making a point against using dead actors, but a film with James Dean and Heath Ledger sounds pretty rad. Throw in a cameo by pornstar Jamed Deen, and we'll have another film for Sundance to reject.
Serena | March 2, 2013 3:41 AMReply

At least that GAP ad the article refers to was just footage from FUNNY FACE with some added graphics to it; this as well as that Dior ad with Charlize Theron that used the images of Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe are just tragically absurd. Leave their images to the photographs and movies they left behind; this is just a blatant cash-grab by their descendants, who are no longer even immediate heirs.
Henry | March 1, 2013 10:36 PMReply

Looks much better than the Steve McQueen Mustang ad, although I guess that he was a well known car enthusiast whereas as Audrey Hepburn is not remembered for affinity for chocolate bars!
Henry | March 1, 2013 10:36 PMReply

Looks much better than the Steve McQueen Mustang ad, although I guess that he was a well known car enthusiast whereas as Audrey Hepburn is not remembered for affinity for chocolate bars!
Smallwood | March 1, 2013 9:12 PMReply

In 1993 Professor JOSEPH J. BEARD wrote the following article - very prescient.

"CASTING CALL AT FOREST LAWN: THE DIGITAL RESURRECTION OF DECEASED
ENTERTAINERS - A 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGE FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW"
DJ Trapper | March 1, 2013 8:22 PMReply

How is this legal?
James | March 1, 2013 9:25 PM

Because her estate signed off on it, as credited at the beginning of the ad. I have to hope/assume they gave the money to charity, otherwise it's too icky to imagine.
tristan eldritch | March 1, 2013 7:19 PMReply

I actually dug it up to the really awkward cut to the Galaxy. Maybe they should get James Dean to advertise sports cars next.
TJ Draper | March 1, 2013 6:13 PMReply

Seems pretty creepy to me. Let her rest in peace.