Elvis Presley is set to return to the stage — as a hologram. Elvis Evolution, an “immersive concert experience” that uses AI and holographic projection, will premiere in London in November. Additional shows are planned in Las Vegas, Tokyo and Berlin.
The show was created based on thousands of the musician’s personal photos and home-video footage, which were part of a deal between Authentic Brands Group, the owners of the Elvis Presley estate, and Layered Reality, a British immersive entertainment company. Layered Reality will create a life-sized digital Elvis, which will perform his iconic songs.
The company describes the performance as “a major new show celebrating the world’s biggest star of stage and screen, Elvis Presley, with a jaw-dropping concert finale and a personal invite to the after party. The show peaks with a concert experience that will recreate the seismic impact of seeing Elvis live for a whole new generation of fans, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. A life-sized digital Elvis will share his most iconic songs and moves for the very first time on a U.K. stage… Through AI and groundbreaking tech you’ll be able to witness iconic Elvis performances as if you were really there, and celebrate defining moments in Elvis Presley’s extraordinary life and career.”
“Elvis Evolution is a next-generation tribute to the musical legend that is Elvis Presley,” Andrew McGuinness, chief executive of Layered Reality, said in a statement. “Elvis maintains superstar status globally and people around the world no longer want to sit there and passively receive entertainment — they want to be a part of it. It’ll be a memory-making experience that will be a bucket-list item for Elvis fans and admirers around the world; people can step into the world of Elvis, walk in his shoes and celebrate his extraordinary musical legacy.”
Marc Rosen, president of entertainment at Authentic Brands Group, added, “We’re thrilled to partner with Layered Reality to give fans a new, immersive way of experiencing Elvis Presley’s life and legacy.”
Elvis Evolution will be held in a yet-to-be-named central London venue. Each show will be followed by an afterparty at its Elvis-themed restaurant and bar with live music, DJs, and performances.
Presley, who died in 1977, continues to be a pop culture icon and has been the subject of two recent films, Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 Oscar-nominated Elvis and Sofia Coppola‘s recent biopic Priscilla.
London currently hosts ABBA Voyage, a popular concert experience featuring digital avatars of the Swedish band.