A partnership between licensing startup Lumiere Ventures and AI dubbing startup ElevenLabs is targeting the international cinema market, starting with the Sylvester Stallone-starring action film Armor, set to premiere on Amazon France in March.

For almost 50 years, Alain Dorval has been the French voice of Stallone in dubbed films. After Droval’s death in 2024, his voice is recreated for the first time using ElevenLabs’ AI technology.

According to the announcement, Lumiere Ventures received the support of Dorval’s family for this project. “We wanted to do something that would honor my father’s craft and legacy,” Dorval’s daughter Aurore Bergé said in a released statement. “There is a big difference between artificially creating a new voice – and my father was strongly against it – and reviving an actor whose voice is deeply embedded in our collective imagination.”

ElevenLabs’ technology currently supports 32 languages ​​and is designed for use in various industries, including entertainment. “AI does not replace the magic of human creativity – it opens new doors for it,” emphasized CEO Mati Staniszewski. “Recreating the voice of Alain Dorval is a chance to show how technology can honor traditions while creating new possibilities in film production.”

Xavier Collins, co-founder of Lumiere Ventures, added: “This project reflects how synchronization can evolve. AI allows us to deliver consistent, localized versions of films while respecting the legacy of the voice actors who make these stories so memorable.”

Lionsgate released “Armor” in the domestic market last November.