Instagrammer Uses the Power of Artificial Intelligence to Imagine How Prominent Late Celebs Would Look in 2021
Artificial intelligence allows us to envision the older versions of celebrities who passed away too soon.
Artificial intelligence has a strange way of making nostalgia feel brand new. In this case, one Instagram creator used it to picture how some of the world’s most famous late celebrities might look today.
Hidreley blended AI tools with Photoshop to age these stars into 2021 versions of themselves, giving fans a glimpse of what might have been. The results are part tribute, part curiosity, and a little uncanny in places.
Scroll through the images and see which one feels the most believable, and which one stops you in your tracks.
1. Heath Ledger looking handsome in his 40s.
hidreley2. What songs would David Bowie sing to us if he were alive today?
hidreley3. What would Tupac Shakur rap about in the year 2021?
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A few of these look surprisingly close to how fans might have pictured them.
4. Marilyn Monroe's beauty would still radiate if she were alive today.
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5. Bruce Lee would never be too old to practice martial arts.
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6. James Dean died too young.
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7. Prince would still look fabulous in his 60s.
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8. Kurt Cobain would never fade away.
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The middle stretch keeps the nostalgia going strong.
9. Michael Jackson, the forever King of Pop.
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10. Even in his 50s, it would be incredible to see Brandon Lee in action.
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11. Diana, Princess of Wales, would still charm us all.
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12. We'll never forget Whitney Houston's powerful vocals.
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13. Bob Marley would surely keep his dreadlocks even in his 70s.
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This is where the tribute starts to feel especially bittersweet.
This AI celebrity mashup turns dark fast, just like Ghetts getting sentenced for a fatal hit-and-run.
14. Brittany Murphy's promising career was tragically cut short by her mysterious death.
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15. The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, will always be in his fans' hearts.
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16. We'd love to hear Freddie Mercury's Bohemian Rhapsody in 2021.
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17. We would have loved to see River Phoenix in his 50s.
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18. Paul Walker looking stunning in his late 40s.
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The final images keep the same mix of admiration and what-if wonder.
19. The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, still rocks.
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20. We would love to hear more songs from Amy Winehouse, even in her late 30s.
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21. John Lennon would maintain his signature style even as he aged.
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It is a simple reminder of how much these stars still matter.
Want more “what if” visuals, check out the viral old-master portraits that look like influencers.
