Edith Piaf’s voice to be recreated using AI in biopic

Filmmakers are to use artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate the voice of Edith Piaf in an upcoming biopic about the French singer.

Warner Music said it has partnered with Ms Piaf’s estate to make a 90-minute animated film about the life of France’s most famous songstress.

The film will deploy AI technology trained on hundreds of voice clips and images, some of which are more than 80 years old, to recreate the singer’s image and distinctive voice.

Ms Piaf’s voice will be used to narrate the film, which will be set in Paris and New York from the 1920s to 1960s. It will blend animation with archival material, including stage and TV performances, interviews and personal footage.

Original recordings of some of her most famous songs, including La Vie En Rose and Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien will also be featured.

Warner has teamed up with French production company Seriously Happy on the project. It has created a proof of concept and will partner with a studio to develop the full film.

Alain Veille, chief executive of Warner Music France, said: “Edith is one of France’s greatest ever artists and she is still a source of so much pride to the French people. 

“It is such a delicate balancing act when combining new technology with heritage artists, and it was imperative to us that we worked closely with Edith’s estate and handled this project with the utmost respect. 

“Her story is one that deserves to be told, and through this film we’ll be able to connect with a whole new audience and inspire a new generation of fans.”

Ms Piaf rose to fame in the 1940s and garnered a huge following in France and around the world as a performer of popular cabaret songs and ballads.

Her songs are still widely enjoyed today and have racked up nearly 300 million streams to date, as well as being featured in numerous films, TV series and advertising campaigns.

Warner said the film will also show how Ms Piaf overcame difficulties in her personal life to become a major symbol of female empowerment.

Edith is based on an original idea by Julie Veille, a French director who has made films about other stars including Sting, Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder.

Ms Veille said: “Her story is one of incredible resilience, of overcoming struggles, and defying social norms to achieve greatness – and one that is as relevant now as it was then. 

“Our goal is to utilise the latest advancements in animation and technology to bring the timeless story to audiences of all ages.”