AI-Based Elvis Hologram Show Will ‘Make You Feel Like You’ve Time Travelled’

Later this year, Elvis Presley will perform in London – not physically, of course (most likely on account of the fact he’s been dead for nearly 50 years), but as an AI-powered hologram... Yes, really.

The production, dubbed Elvis Evolution, seemingly takes cues from the technically astounding ABBA Voyage event – which has stunned audiences in London since May 2022 – and will debut in the same UK capital this November. It comes as a joint endeavour between Elvis’ own estate, Authentic Brands Group and the immersive event company Layered Reality.

The show itself is being described (per NME) as an “immersive concert experience”, during which we’ll see a life-sized Elvis hologram “perform iconic moments in musical history”. The hologram is being brought to “life” in part by way of artificial intelligence, with reference materials including thousands of hours worth of home videos, live footage and personal photos granted by Elvis’ estate.

The whole thing is being spearheaded by Andrew McGuinness, the founder of Layered Reality, who formally dubbed Elvis Evolution “a next-generation tribute to the musical legend that is Elvis Presley”.

Expounding on his team’s ambitious vision for the event, McGuinness continued: “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. It’ll be a memory-making experience that will be a bucket-list item for Elvis fans and admirers around the world; people can step into the world of Elvis, walk in his shoes and celebrate his extraordinary musical legacy.”

In an interview with the BBC, McGuinness hyped the show up by saying it’ll offer viewers a chance to “[step] into intricate sets that make you feel like you’ve time travelled”. He added: “It’s more about how we want people to feel, we use temperature, taste and smell to make people feel like they are in Memphis in 1958.”

The creator also spoke of the differences between ABBA Voyage and Elvis Evolution, noting that “ABBA Voyage had the luxury of capturing live performers, but we’re not that fortunate. The AI generates an authentic version of Elvis, born of original material, but it [also] allows you to do new things with him.”

Following its London debut this November, versions of the Elvis Evolution show will be held in Las Vegas, Tokyo and Berlin. Here’s hoping an Australian edition might also be on the cards!