Anton Ernst addresses James Dean backlash

How does one pursue casting an actor posthumously — specifically James Dean, who died nearly seven decades ago in a car crash at the age of 24?

Director Anton Ernst, who along with co-director Tati Golykh announced Wednesday that their Vietnam War-era drama Finding Jack will feature the late actor as a prominent character, believes the key to the whole process is "respect."

Addressing the criticism on social media, Ernst stated that he was "saddened" and "confused" over the overwhelmingly negative comments. "We don't really understand it. We never intended for this to be a marketing gimmick," he added.

When searching for an actor to play Rogan, Ernst said he and his co-director did audition live actors. They ultimately decided Dean was the perfect fit for the role, as Rogan is a "very brilliant, complex character" which is "pretty much how James Dean was perceived."

Magic City Films obtained the rights to use Dean's image from his living relatives, represented by CMG Worldwide.