Remember that guy who jumped from the Titanic as it was sinking, only to collide with the propeller and spiral down into the icy water? Or how Spider-Man can flip through the air with gravity-defying agility? Ever wondered how they did it? The answer lies in digi-doubles—lifelike digital replicas of actors used to pull off scenes that are too dangerous, complex or downright impossible to film with real people.
While it might seem like the domain of superhero blockbusters, digi-doubles have been quietly revolutionizing all kinds of films since the 90s. But what goes into making a digi-double, and why have they become such an essential tool in every filmmaker’s storytelling toolkit?
WHAT IS A DIGI-DOUBLE?
A digi-double is a digital recreation of an actor, crafted to replicate their appearance, movements and even facial expressions. The process typically begins with 3D scanning the actor to capture their likeness in detail. This data is then used to build a realistic 3D model, which can be animated using motion capture or other techniques to mirror the actor's performance. This digital counterpart can then be integrated into live-action scenes, making it appear as if the actor is performing feats without you even knowing it (when it’s well done).
The first time, it seems, that a digi-double was used in a film, was in Batman Forever (1995), with cape and all.But why go to all this trouble? Digi-doubles offer filmmakers a way to tackle scenes that would be too dangerous, expensive, impractical or impossible to shoot with real actors.
WHEN TO USE DIGI-DOUBLES?
Digi-doubles have become a go-to tool in blockbuster action filmmaking, especially with the rise of superhero movies. For example, Spider-Man's swings through New York City are performed by a CGI double because, well, you know... Spidey things.
But it's not only about the stunts.
When Spider-Man made his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War, what audiences actually saw was a digi-double—even in dialogue scenes. Lengthy negotiations and Tom Holland’s late casting, which happened months after filming had already begun, necessitated the use of a digital stand-in to integrate the character into the story, according to VOX. So, they aren't just for action—they're also very helpful under tight deadlines and unexpected challenges.
Another reason to use them is to enhance a character's pose, silhouette and/or movement, especially when aiming for a comic book vibe or creating a gruesome effect. In horror movies, they are particularly valuable for violently killing or "breaking" characters, as was done in Stranger Things 4.
However, digi-doubles aren’t limited to superhero or supernatural scenarios—they're also used in more grounded settings. For example, in Titanic, they were key to convey the massive scale of the ship and the violence of its sinking. They were used not only for the main actors and stunt scenes but also to populate the ship with hundreds of passengers.
A more recent use comes from David Fincher’s The Killer (2023), where a digi-double was employed during a scene in which the protagonist, played by Michael Fassbender, narrowly escapes through the streets of Paris after a botched hit. The decision to use CGI was done because the result of shooting in a virtual set didn't live up to the expectations.
Sometimes, digi-doubles can be a last resort. In Furious 7 (2015), for example, after Paul Walker's tragic death, his brothers stood in as body doubles and a digi-double was used to complete his remaining scenes, allowing the film to preserve the character’s storyline.
Digi-doubles are also useful for de-aging or aging actors, as seen in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, where Brad Pitt’s face was digitally recreated for most of the film. Additionally, they can be invaluable for creating specific crowds, like in season 3 of The Handmaid’s Tale, where thousands of handmaids were digitally replicated. Leo Bovell, VFX supervisor at Mavericks VFX, described the challenge in an interview with Befores and Afters:
“One of the more challenging parts of the sequence was our digi-double handmaids. In total we had approximately 22,000 plus digi-doubles”.
DIGI-DOUBLES FOR INTERACTION
Another use of digi-doubles is to facilitate interaction with CGI elements. In this case, they don’t need to be exact replicas of the actor but are instead used to simulate how CGI elements—such as fabric, snow, water, fire or debris—would interact with a human body. By creating a digital stand-in that matches the actor’s size, shape and movements, VFX artists can ensure that the CGI reacts naturally, like a gun melting onto a man's hand because of Homelander's X-rays.
THE UNCANNY VALLEY
While digi-doubles offer a wide array of possibilities, they also come with the risk of falling into the "uncanny valley"—a term used to describe the eerie feeling audiences get when a digital human looks almost, but not quite, real. This discomfort can break the viewer's immersion, making them acutely aware that they are watching something artificial.
A notorious example is the CGI baby Renesmee in Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, where the VFX artists faced the challenging task of creating a baby that resembled the child actress, using photos of her to replace a real baby on screen.
“We’d realign the posture of the baby to be more self-aware. […] Next step in that process was the eyeline. We’re doing CGI eyeballs, because you cannot say look to the left or right to a baby. So, we controlled the eyeline with CG eyeballs”, Edson Williams, VFX Supervisor at Lola.
Nicolas Cage's brief appearance as Superman in The Flash (2023) and the digital recreation of Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian faced the same problems. This is why digi-doubles tend to work best with masked superheroes or helmet-wearing characters, as it’s easier to convincingly recreate fabric rather than skin, although, as we have seen, not impossible.
So, in the end, digi-doubles have become an integral part of modern filmmaking. They offer solutions to a wide range of challenges—from executing complex stunts to filling out large crowd scenes—across various genres. Ttheir use ensures safety and continuity when real-life limitations arise. Now, if you need a digi-double for your production, Orbitae is here to help you with it.
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