Disney are looking into digitally recreating Princess Leia after Carrie Fisher’s unexpected death for the upcoming episodes of the Star Wars series.
Disney has entered into talks with Carrie Fisher’s family about the possibility to use CGI, Computer-Generated Imagery, to digitally recreate the Star Wars star for the upcoming Episode 9, according to BBC’s Newsnight.
Carrie Fisher played the iconic role of Princess Leia, later on General Organa, ever since the first Star Wars movie back in 1977. She later on return to play the role when Disney continued that series with Episode 7.
Even though Fisher finished shooting all her scenes for Episode 8, it was hoped that she had an even greater role in the following Episode 9.
At the age of 60, Fisher passed away on a flight from London to Los Angeles on December 27, 2016.
Similar technology was used to revive Peter Cushing’s role as Grand Moff Tarkin in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which Fisher was reportedly a fan off. However, a full recreation of the deceased has met criticism and have become a controversial topic among Star Wars fans around the world.
When Paul Walker passed away in 2013, he had not yet finished all his scenes for Fast 7, the 7th installment of the Fast & Furious series. With the help of his brothers Cody and Caleb, the makers were able to finish filming, using his brothers and then altering their facial features to look more like Paul.
CGI uses a stand-in actor, who performs the scene and then has his/her face digitally remastered to look like someone else. Somewhat like digital make-up.
