Lucasfilm sued for recreating actor's likeness without permission in 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'
By
Lucasfilm , the Disney subsidiary that produces the Star Wars series, is reportedly being sued for allegedly recreating actor Peter Cushing's appearance in the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story without permission.
Peter Cushing's Star Wars resurrection at center of legal battle
https://www.thetimes.com/article/peter-cushings-star-wars-resurrection-at-centre-of-legal-battle-vsp8ssjg2
Disney Sued For Using Moff Tarkin's Face In Star Wars Rogue One
https://kotaku.com/star-wars-rogue-one-peter-cushing-disney-sued-1851645468
Peter Cushing played Wilhuff Tarkin , Governor of the Galactic Empire, in Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope , released in 1978.
by Brecht Bug
'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' is a prequel to 'Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope,' and Tarkin also appears as a high-ranking official of the Galactic Empire, but Cushing had already passed away at the time of the production of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.' Therefore, a technique was used in which Cushing's face was composited onto another actor using motion capture and computer graphics technology.
You can see how the face of Tarkin, played by Cushing, is actually reproduced by watching the following movie released by ABC News.
How Rogue One Created Princess Leia, Grand Moff Tarkin - YouTube
According to the British daily newspaper The Times, the suit is being filed against Lucalfilm by Cushing's friend Kevin Francis, along with Lunak Heavy Industries, the production company behind Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Cushing's heirs (who are now deceased), and Associated International Management, which represents Cushing.
Francis claims that he had agreed with Lucasfilm in 1993, a year before Cushing's death, that any reproduction of Cushing's likeness would require Francis' permission, and has sought £500,000 (US$92 million) from Lucasfilm.
Lucasfilm, on the other hand, argued that because of Cushing's contract and the special effects used in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, it did not need permission to recreate Cushing's likeness, and that it paid Cushing's estate about $37,000 to recreate his likeness.
Disney requested that the lawsuit be dismissed in December 2023 but lost, and appealed the decision but lost on September 3, 2024. Therefore, it will be argued in the upcoming trial whether Francis' request will be granted.
Related Posts:
