The Rolling Stones are officially entering their "Benjamin Button" era, and honestly, the results are a little bit terrifying and a whole lot of cool. While most 80-year-olds are figuring out how to use a QR code at brunch, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood are busy collaborating with the creators of South Park to resurrect their 1970s selves for the Rolling Stones In The Stars music video.
The video, which dropped ahead of their upcoming album Foreign Tongues, isn't just a nostalgic trip; it’s a high-stakes flex of Rolling Stones de-aged AI technology. We’re talking about a full-blown digital resurrection that makes the band look like they just stepped off the set of a 1975 photoshoot, even though the vocals are very much coming from the legends as they are today. If you felt a glitch in the Matrix while watching it, you aren't alone.
Who is in the Rolling Stones In The Stars video?
The Rolling Stones In The Stars music video stars actress Odessa A’zion alongside digitally de-aged versions of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood. The video was directed by Francois Rousselet and utilizes deepfake technology created by Deep Voodoo, an AI company owned by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The production also features a rotating cast of drummers and a surrealist house party atmosphere.
The Surreal 1970s Throwback: Inside the 'In The Stars' Visuals
Directed by Francois Rousselet—the same mind behind the Sydney Sweeney-led "Angry" and the Kristen Stewart-fronted "Ride ’Em On Down"—the video for "In The Stars" is a fever dream of rock and roll decadence. It centers on Odessa A’zion Rolling Stones superfan energy; the Marty Supreme actress plays a protagonist navigating a surreal house party video where the boundaries of time don't exist.
A’zion, who famously cited Tattoo You as the first record she ever finished, brings a genuine "main character" vibe to the project. But the real stars are the 1970s iterations of the band. Unlike the animated billboards we saw in the "Angry" video, these are high-fidelity deepfakes that interact with the environment. It’s a Mick Jagger deepfake that actually feels like it has weight, moving through a hazy, vintage-filtered London apartment that looks suspiciously like a lost scene from Exile on Main Street.
How Deep Voodoo De-Aged the Rolling Stones
The technical wizardry behind the Deep Voodoo Rolling Stones video comes courtesy of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s AI studio. If you’ve seen the Kendrick Lamar "The Heart Part 5" video or the recent Billy Joel "Turn the Lights Back On" clip, you know the vibe. But de-aging three rock icons simultaneously is a massive undertaking for any Deep Voodoo AI data wrangler.
To pull this off, the production used In The Stars video body doubles to provide the physical movements that the AI would later "skin" with the band's younger faces. The credits reveal the humans behind the masks:
- Luca Arshad served as the Mick Jagger double.
- Jonny Weber took on the role of the Keith Richards AI base.
- Tyla Challenger provided the movements for Ronnie Wood.
From a VFX perspective, the video mostly escapes the "uncanny valley" by leaning into a grainy, film-stock aesthetic. By avoiding the hyper-clean digital look, the AI mapping feels more organic. It’s a "hyper-realistic digital avatar" strategy similar to what Paul McCartney used for his "Find My Way" video, but with the grit that only the Stones can provide.
Foreign Tongues: The Full Tracklist and Translations
The Rolling Stones new album 2026, titled Foreign Tongues, is set to drop on July 10 via Capitol Records and Polydor. The project earned its name after a confusing Apple Music leak where the Foreign Tongues album tracklist appeared entirely in different languages. We’ve done the digging to translate the 14-track collection for you.
The album was recorded in a "concentrated punch" of one month at Metropolis Studios London, a former power station that provided the tight, intimate acoustics the band wanted. Here is the definitive tracklist:
| Track Number | English Title | Notes/Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rough and Twisted | The opening rocker; previously teased on vinyl. |
| 2 | In the Stars | The lead AI-driven single. |
| 3 | Jealous Lover | Classic Stones balladry. |
| 4 | Mr. Charm | A mid-tempo groover. |
| 5 | Divine Intervention | Features Steve Winwood. |
| 6 | Ringing Hollow | Heavy blues influence. |
| 7 | Never Wanna Lose You | Upbeat pop-rock. |
| 8 | Hit Me in the Head | The Charlie Watts posthumous track. |
| 9 | You Know I'm No Good | An Amy Winehouse cover. |
| 10 | Some of Us | Lead vocals by Keith Richards. |
| 11 | Covered in You | Features Paul McCartney collaboration. |
| 12 | Side Effects | Features Chad Smith on drums. |
| 13 | Back in Your Life | Brian Wilson tribute by Ronnie Wood. |
| 14 | Beautiful Delilah | A high-energy album closer. |
The Ghost in the Machine: Charlie Watts and Guest Stars
Perhaps the most emotional moment on the album is "Hit Me in the Head." Mick Jagger described it as a "real fast punk rocker" recorded in Los Angeles with Charlie Watts before his passing in 2021. While Steve Jordan handles the kit for the rest of the album, this track serves as a final, high-speed salute to the heartbeat of the band.
The guest list for Foreign Tongues reads like a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Andrew Watt producer—who also helmed Hackney Diamonds—brought in a wild mix of talent. The most chaotic story? Jagger walking into the studio to find a man in a long gown covered in lipstick. It turned out to be Robert Smith guest appearance from The Cure, who ended up laying down backing vocals on the spot.
Ronnie Wood also contributed a deeply personal moment with "Back in Your Life," a track born from a nine-minute guitar solo recorded the day Brian Wilson passed away. Wood claimed the "guitar played itself" that day, also channeling the spirit of the late Sly Stone.
The Cockroaches and the Secret Vinyl Release
Before the official announcement, the Stones leaned into their history of being "The Cockroaches"—a pseudonym they used for secret club gigs in the '70s and '80s. They released a limited white-label vinyl of "Rough and Twisted" under this name to tip off the hardcore fans. It was a classic underground move for a band that is now more of a global corporation than a garage group.
Key Takeaways
- The Rolling Stones In The Stars music video uses Deep Voodoo AI to de-age the band to their mid-70s prime.
- Actress Odessa A’zion stars in the video, which was directed by Francois Rousselet.
- The new album Foreign Tongues drops July 10, 2026, and features a posthumous performance by Charlie Watts.
- Guest stars include Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Steve Winwood, and Chad Smith.
- The album includes an Amy Winehouse cover and a tribute to Brian Wilson.
While the Rolling Stones new album 2026 cycle is in full swing, don't expect a tour just yet. Keith Richards has hinted that 2027 is the more likely window for live dates. For now, we're left with a record that sounds like the present but looks exactly like the past—a strange, digital immortality that only the Rolling Stones could pull off without looking like they're trying too hard.
