Marvel Studios started using de-aging tech in Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And now, this technology continues to be a part of their filmmaking.
The technique has been around since the mid-2000s, with Fox’s X-Men: The Last Stand—the first film to use CGI de-aging effect. It is typically used for flashback scenes where filmmakers can keep the same actor without recasting for certain parts of the story.
The movie’s opening scene shows 20-year-old Professor X and Magneto visiting Jean Gray as a child. It set a world record for being the first movie in history to utilize de-aging technology for actors Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.
X-Men Film Makes History with De-Aging Tech for Its Actors
In 2006, Lola Visual Effects focused on digital cosmetic enhancements for actors, including makeup corrections and digital plastic surgery like tummy tucks or muscle definition.
On X-Men: The Last Stand (aka X3), they were tasked with a new challenge: de-aging Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen for a flashback scene set twenty years in the past.
Director Brett Ratner insisted on not casting younger lookalikes for X3. He wanted stars to look like their 1980s selves. According to MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, the X3 producers requested pitches for various methods—from prosthetics to digital doubles. Lola gave them the solution with a de-aging method that didn’t disrupt filming, avoiding tracking dots, motion capture, or MOVA dust.
How The VFX Company Implemented the De-Aging Technique in X-Men Film
The VFX company then secured the job, marking the first attempt at de-aging in a major film. They compiled extensive research and gathered numerous images of young Stewart and McKellen.
Using digital skin grafts, Lola technicians smoothed wrinkles, and their tightened skin molded the actors into their younger selves. These grafts were virtually attached to the actors’ faces after their movements. Digital artists reshaped the grafts for each frame and ensured a match with the lighting of the original performances.
Lola’s team collaborated with plastic surgeons to enhance the de-aging process. Plastic surgeons advised that the nose and ears were areas where surgery had a limited impact (due to ongoing growth).
The team addressed this by digitally removing the noses and ears from the footage of Stewart and McKellen. They scaled them down by 10% and then reattached them to create a youthful appearance. This innovative approach contributed to the success of the de-aging effect in the film.
The film was released in 2006, and its flashback scene faced criticism for looking fake. Despite initial challenges, Lola became the go-to studio for such effects.
