Selena Quintanilla-Pérez could return to the stage as a hologram, described as a “talking, singing and dancing digital embodiment of the iconic singer.”

Selena became famous in the ‘90s and, though she was killed in 1995 at the age of 23, is considered a groundbreaking Latina artist. The Quintanilla family has kept the singer’s legacy alive since her death, with a feature film Selena starring Jennifer Lopez, and, most recently, multiple celebrations honoring Selena on the 20th anniversary of her death. On April 17, the Quintanilla family is launching a Selena two-day festival called Fiesta de la Flor.

Selena The One

On Tuesday, April 7, the Quintanilla family announced their plans to have Selena return to the stage using new hologram technology. The hologram, named ‘Selena the One,’ is currently in development and “will release new songs and videos, will collaborate with current hit artists and aims to go on tour in 2018.”

Selena’s estate is working with Acrovirt, a tech company, to create ‘Selena The One.’ While the digital Selena might resemble a hologram, Acrovirt is quick to state that their technology will be more advanced, creating a Selena the One superior to the Tupac hologram.

“This technology is an advanced technology that does not have the limitations of past technologies such as holograms or holographs, but is revolutionary,” reads a press release.

The technology is expensive, and so the family and Acrovirt are launching an Indiegogo campaign to fund the project on April 16. They are hoping to raise $500,000 through the crowd-funding site.

News of a digital Selena has received mix reactions from fans and critics with some fans questioning the family’s motives for attempting to extend Selena’s career without her.

Selena’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla, expanded on the project and dismissed the notion that the hologram would be “creepy or weird.”

“We think it’s something amazing. A lot of the new fans that did not get to experience what Selena was about hopefully will be able to get a sense of her with this new technology that’s going to be coming out,” Suzette told Billboard.

According to Suzette, Acrovirt approached her family last year with the prospect of a digital Selena creation, though the Quintanilla family had previously looked into creating a Selena hologram with the same company that made the Tupac hologram a few years ago.

“It’s not about replacing Selena in any shape, way or form; it’s just something to help her legacy continue growing,” Suzette added.

Article by Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.