The untimely death of Carrie Fisher at the end of December brought shock and grief to her fans, but it posed other problems for film executives with an extensive Star Wars franchise lined up. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story famously featured Peter Cushing, despite the fact the actor had died in 1994. Disney used a combination of digital effects to change the appearance of actor Guy Henry to appear as Cushing's character, so that it seemed as if Cushing was acting from beyond the grave. Newsnight reports that Disney could be discussing doing the same thing with Fisher, who returned to the Star Wars franchise in JJ Abrams' 2015 film, The Force Awakens, as General Leia Organa. Kirsty Wark said on the BBC show: "With what might be regarded as unseemly haste, Disney is negotiating with the actor’s estate over her continued appearance in the franchise. If Disney gets the go-ahead, Carrie Fisher will join Peter Cushing, who, last month, 15 years after his death, played a key role in Rogue One as Grand Moff Tarkin." There was no more detail on what exactly Disney is negotiating with the estate: the studio may want to continue using Fisher's likeness on merchandise, or, as with Cushing, want to bring Leia back for Star Wars: Espiode IX, which is due for release in 2018. As Newsnight pointed out, however, such technological advances come with their own ethical questions: just because late actors can be brought back to popular franchises, it doesn't mean that they should. Some living actors have taken steps to ensuring that once they die, they shouldn't return to the big screen. Robin Williams, who died in 2014, banned the commercial use of his image until 2039. As for what technology will be capable of then remains to be seen.
Source: Teelgraph.co.uk