Filmmaker David Fincher Embraces AI for Se7en Remaster
On January 3, 2025, David Fincher took a significant step into the future of film restoration by employing artificial intelligence (AI) in the remastering of his acclaimed 1995 crime thriller, Se7en. With stars Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, the movie has been a benchmark in cinematic artistry.
During a recent interview with EW, Fincher elucidated how AI technology allowed the team to rectify issues that were previously unnoticed. ‘Throwing this new kind of technological firepower at stuff was, for me, really revelatory,’ he stated. ‘We ran into things that heretofore had never been noted. I mean, shots that were fundamentally out of focus that you couldn’t read on film and couldn’t read even in HD.’
As the remastering progressed, the team conducted 4K downsampling from the original 8K scan. Fincher explained, ‘And then you get to 4K downsampling of the 8K scan. And we did end up going in and doing little split screens and using AI to sharpen things so that we could reestablish what was intended to be looked at.’
Fincher emphasized that the entire remastering process extended over a year. Reflecting on the meticulous detail needed to revitalize the film’s original aesthetic, he shared, ‘We were really trying to get back to that first CCE check print that we saw 30 years ago… And I think we did it.’
While Fincher celebrates AI as a valuable tool, he insists the primary aim in remastering Se7en was preservation. He noted, ‘I honestly believe that films are as beholden to the technological artifacts of the time as they are to the limitations of budget.’ The director remarked on color matching capabilities that were unavailable in 1995, highlighting advancements that make modern restorations possible.
A notable improvement was made in a particular scene featuring Kevin Spacey. Fincher recounted, ‘There were some shots of Kevin in the backseat of the police car… We were able to use AI and make mattes and extract the performance that was in the backseat.’ These enhancements offer fans a renewed experience of the film.
The 4K remaster of Se7en will be showcased in IMAX theaters and will debut on 4K UHD Blu-ray and digital platforms on January 7, 2025, giving audiences a chance to rediscover this classic with enhanced clarity.
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