Lucasfilm argued over the use of Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin

The London-based film company Tyburn Film Productions is taking Disney to court over the use of Peter Cushing’s cast in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Celebrated horror actor Peter Cushing played a key role as Grand Moff Tarkin in the first Star Wars movie, but sadly died on August 11, 1994. Industrial Light & Magic used ground-breaking CGI to bring Cushing back into Bug oneUse actor Guy Henry as a digital stand-in.

Per The TelegraphTyburn Film Productions is taking legal action against Lucasfilm and producers Lunak Heavy Industries, Claiming that the “reproduction” of Cushing’s image violated a contract with the actor before his death. The lawyers argued that the agreement was made for Cushing’s intended appearance in a TV movie that was never made, while Lucasfilm protested that they did not believe permission was necessary and that they owned the rights to use Cushing’s image. From the original movie. The High Court has now ruled that the matter should go to trial, although Judge Tom Mitcheson Kay did not consider the case”Not arguable.“

What the Peter Cushing trial means for Hollywood

This is a question of ownership

The Peter Cushing trial naturally reopens the Torney debate about reusing the faces of actors who have died. There is actually nothing new to this debateBecause VFX companies have been doing this for years; Marlon Brando’s appearance in Superman Returns is a classic example, while past names of Oliver Reed are stitched together for Gladiator. The issue is becoming mainstream simply because the technology is becoming increasingly indistinguishable from the real thing (although Bug one did not completely hide his “indescribable valley” issue).

Looking at the Peter Cushing case, the question is really one of copyright; Tyburn Film Productions’ 1994 contract actually prohibited Lucasfilm from using Cushing’s likeness, effectively meaning they “owned” it in perpetuity. Apart from the ethical considerations, ownership will always be the main legal issue. The matter will now be decided in court.

The ethics of Tarkin’s return remain questionable

Should we bring back the dead?

There is always a tendency to overstate the importance of any legal case. The trial is not about the ethical debate; It is a simple question of ownership, and it sounds to be a torney due to the nature of the contracts involved. More interesting, however, is the question of whether it is ever right for a studio to claim ownership of a person’s likeness after their death, let alone reproduce it.

We’ve seen just how controversial such issues can be following the passing of Carrie Fisher, with Lucasfilm publicly promising to be respectful because of Princess Leia’s role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This problem is not going to go away, especially now Star Wars Movies and TV shows expanded on the main Imperial conflict at the time, Leia was supposed to be a key player in the New Republic. Should it be recast or CGI? Or should the narrator somehow write Leah out of the story The Mandalorian Era?

This problem is obviously not new, but I think it is the continuing evolution of digital technology that has made it especially urgent. The invisible valley is gradually closing, and CGI recreations are pretty much indistinguishable from the real thing. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was a crucial step on a journey that could not be wise.

Source: The Telegraph