Rogue One VFX head defends Peter Cushing CGI Grand Moff Tarkin scene
'We weren’t doing anything that I think Peter Cushing would’ve objected to'
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Your support makes all the difference.The biggest talking point coming out of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was undoubtedly its breathtaking use of CGI, which recreated Peter Cushing and a young Carrie Fisher so perfectly as to raise ethical questions with regards to using actors’ likenesses after their death.
Disney, of course, had permission from Cushing’s estate to bring back Grand Moff Tarkin the way it did, but what would Cushing himself have made of it?
John Knoll, who served as VFX supervisor on Rogue One, believes he would have given the green light.
"We weren’t doing anything that I think Peter Cushing would’ve objected to. I think this work was done with a great deal of affection and care," he told Yahoo Movies.
"We know that Peter Cushing was very proud of his involvement in Star Wars and had said as much, and that he regretted that he never got a chance to be in another Star Wars film because George [Lucas] had killed off his character.”
"This was done in consultation and cooperation with his estate. So we wouldn’t do this if the estate had objected or didn’t feel comfortable with this idea."
Last week, rumours circulated that Disney would build on its Princess Leia CGI model and create a General Leia for Star Wars 9, in light of Fisher’s death. The studio was quick to swat down even the suggestion it had contacted Fisher’s estate.
“We want to assure our fans that Lucasfilm has no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher’s performance as Princess or General Leia Organa,” it said in a statement.
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