Wikipedia:Finding Jack

Finding Jack is an upcoming American war film based on the novel of the same title by Gareth Crocker. The film will be directed by Anton Ernst and Tati Golykh, written by Mari Sova, and distributed by Magic City Films. The film will feature a digital double of James Dean in the starring role. It will detail accounts of abandoned canine units following the Vietnam War.

A film adaptation of Crocker's novel Finding Jack was announced with Ernst, Golykh, and Sova attached in November 2019, along with the usage of a digital double render of Dean, who had died in 1955. Dean's cousins from his estate supported this, while some entertainment industry figures criticized the practice.

Finding Jack was expected to be released on Veterans Day 2020.

Cast

 * Digital double of James Dean as Rogan

Development and pre-production
In November 2019, a film adaptation of Gareth Crocker's novel Finding Jack was announced to be in development, with Anton Ernst and Tati Golykh set to direct from a screenplay being written by Mari Sova, and Magic City Films set to distribute the film. The plot was to center on accounts of the abandonment of thousands of canine units at the end of the Vietnam War. A digital double of James Dean, who died in 1955, was set to appear in the starring role of Rogan, with film footage and photographs of Dean set to be used for rendering this appearance, a method which was supported by two of Dean's cousins that represent his estate. Ernst and Golykh had previously planned to feature digital doubles of Elvis Presley and Paul Newman, but were turned down by Elvis Presley Enterprises for the former. However, the practice of recreating a deceased actor's likeness for a contemporary film was met with anger from actors, including Chris Evans and Elijah Wood, while Zelda Williams described it as "puppeteering the dead." In response, Ernst said he was "saddened and confused" by the negative reactions, and that it had never been intended as a "marketing gimmick".

Music
Upon the film's announcement, Laurent Eyquem was set to compose the score, with the main song written by Diane Warren.

Release
Finding Jack was expected to be released by Magic City Films on Veterans Day, November 11, 2020.