Retired Screen Goddess Joey Wong Makes Comeback With AI Version Of Herself Playing Iconic Nie Xiaoqian Role

It's been 22 years since Joey Wong's sudden retirement from showbiz, but fans will finally get to see the screen goddess on their screens again.

The former Taiwanese actress has reportedly authorised the use of her AI-generated likeness for Tianxia, a game developed by Chinese internet technology company NetEase.

The company has also released a promotional short film titled Qian Ying, reviving Joey's iconic  youthful beauty.

According to ITHome, Joey became the brand ambassador for Tianxia's 18th anniversary in June, and the company released Qian Ying last week. 

The film uses AI technology to recreate Joey's most iconic screen appearances from the peak of her career in her 20s and 30s, including her legendary role as Nie Xiaoqian in the classic 1987 supernatural romance A Chinese Ghost Story.

The project is being billed as the gaming industry's first AI-generated commercial produced with full authorisation from a celebrity. 

Industry observers say it also marks the first time a star from Hong Kong's film industry has granted full commercial rights to the use of an AI-generated version of her face.

In addition to the promotional video, Joey's AI likeness will reportedly appear as a digital NPC in the game.

Players will also be able to obtain a limited-edition in-game costume called Qian Ying You Hun for free. The name appears to reference Joey's iconic role in A Chinese Ghost Story.

The announcement, however, has left netizens divided.

Many supporters believe licensing AI likenesses is a sensible option for veteran actors who have stepped away from the entertainment industry and have chosen a private lifestyle.

In Joey's case, the screen icon made her final film appearance in Shanghai Story in 2004 before retiring from showbiz and moving to Canada, where she has lived a quiet and private life ever since.

It allows stars like her to continue earning income without returning to acting while also giving fans the opportunity to revisit the iconic image they remember.

Others, however, argue that the AI recreation captures "the appearance but not the spirit".

They say that while the technology can faithfully reproduce Joey's facial features, it cannot fully convey the unique grace, charisma and presence that made her performances so memorable.