In the future, studios might be able to make profitable deep fakes that appeal to a niche audience, especially if they don’t have to pay the actors’ heirs.
Plus, the big thing might not be feature films, but ads. Charlie Chaplin may be advertising products right now somewhere in the world, a half-century after his death and a century after he became famous. Same thing with Marilyn. People who don’t know her name and have never seen her movies recognize her image.
Now just remember, this is NOT Tom Cruise!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPOc9Y7niZE
“People who don’t know her name and have never seen her movies recognize her image”
I can agree that even many children have seen her iconic image.
I, myself, 68 years old have never seen her in a movie.