The studio behind the "Star Wars" movie franchise said on Friday is has no plans to digitally recreate film performances of the late actress Carrie Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia, in upcoming installments of the blockbuster series.
Speculation had mounted since Fisher died unexpectedly last month, at age 60, that filmmakers might use new advances in computer graphics technology to resurrect digital images of the actress in forthcoming chapters of the "Star Wars" film epic.
Such technology was notably utilized in the newly released "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," in which a digital embodiment of British actor Peter Cushing, who died in 1994, returned for the role of the Grand Moff Tarkin that he first played in the original 1977 "Star Wars" adventure.
The Walt Disney Co-owned Lucasfilm, producers of the "Star Wars" franchise, posted a statement online putting to rest the notion that Fisher's image would likewise be recreated.
"We want to assure our fans that Lucasfilm has no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher's performance as Princess or General Leia Organa," the studio said.
"Carrie Fisher was, is and always will be part of the Lucasfilm family," the statement added. "She was our princess, our general and more importantly, our friend. We are still hurting from her loss. We cherish her memory and legacy as Princess Leia, and will always strive to honor everything she gave to 'Star Wars.'"
Fisher appeared in four of the "Star Wars" films, beginning with the original 1977 movie and its two sequels, playing the intrepid Princess Leia as a young actress.
She returned in Disney's 2015 reboot of the franchise, the "The Force Awakens," appearing as the more matronly General Leia Organa, leader of the Resistance movement fighting the evil First Order.
She had already filmed her role for the upcoming untitled sequel to that film - "Episode VIII" - which is due for release in 2017, and had been expected to reappear in "Episode IX" out in 2019.
The statement by Lucasfilm on Friday left in question whether her character would be written out of that film or another actress would be hired to play the Leia role.
Fisher died following a heart attack she suffered during a flight to Los Angeles from London, where she had been shooting the third season of the British sitcom "Catastrophe."
Reuters
Sat Jan 14 2017
Fisher appeared in four of the "Star Wars" films, beginning with the original 1977 movie and its two sequels, playing the intrepid Princess Leia as a young actress. - Photo star wars.com
Perang Iran-Israel: Malaysia pantau kesan terhadap ekonomi - Tengku Zafrul
Kementerian Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri memantau rapat perkembangan ketegangan geopolitik di Asia Barat termasuk membabitkan Iran dan Israel susulan letupan di Isfahan hari ini.
"OIC dah tak bermakna, tak berguna dalam meredakan ketegangan"
Pandangan dikongsi Prof Dr Salawati Mat Basir, Pakar undang-undang antarabangsa, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
Perjuangan PBB banyak disekat oleh AS dan EU
Sementara itu, Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd Yazid Zul Kepli berkata tidak wajar menyalahkan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) yang telah konsisten mengutuk tindakan israel dan berusaha gigih dalam membawa penyelesaian damai dalam isu ini.
Tindakan Israel mencetuskan ketegangan lebih buruk di Asia Barat
Pakar Undang-undang Antabangsa, Kulliyyah Undang-undang Ahmad Ibrahim (AIKOL), Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM), kesediaan Iran untuk bertindak balas dengan segera dan tegas menunjukkan bahawa mereka tidak akan berdiam diri dalam menghadapi sebarang ancaman terhadap kedaulatan dan keselamatan negara mereka.
Perang Iran-Israel: Kerajaan mesyuarat petang ini, termasuk bawa pulang rakyat Malaysia
Kerajaan akan mengadakan mesyuarat khas petang ini bagi membincangkan situasi semasa di Iran termasuk kemungkinan membawa pulang rakyat Malaysia di negara itu susulan serangan rejim Israel.
Usaha tingkatkan kadar gaji penjawat awam diumum Hari Pekerja - PM Anwar
Cadangan penambahbaikan, usaha tingkatkan kadar pendapatan bersih penjawat awam akan diumumkan pada Hari Pekerja, kata Perdana Menteri
Mangsa serangan buaya boleh minta bantuan tabung JKM - Nancy
Mangsa serangan buaya atau binatang buas boleh memohon bantuan daripada Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) menerusi Tabung Bantuan Mangsa Serangan Binatang Buas.
Iran nafi diserang Israel, anggap propaganda media Barat
Pegawai Kerajaan Iran mendakwa mendakwa, ia hanyalah sebahagian daripada propaganda media barat, untuk mengelirukan pandangan dunia.
AWANI Ringkas: Beras dibuang sebab telah rosak, tidak selamat
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
[INFOGRAFIK] Letusan Gunung Ruang
Berikut adalah info berkenaan dengan letusan Gunung Ruang di Wilayah Sulawesi Utara.
Peminat Star Wars disajikan dengan treler 'The Rise of Skywalker'
Episod ke sembilan yang juga filem terakhir bagi trilogi itu diberi judul 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'.
Lima sebab kenapa anda perlu tonton Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Star Wars bukan filem biasa, francais terbesar Star Wars saga dan paling berpengaruh dalam sejarah.
Pasangan Inggeris naiki penerbangan 'kosong' ke Pulau Pinang
Kyle McNicol dan Carrie Fisher menaiki penerbangan tambang murah negara dari Krabi ke Pulau Pinang dan hanya mereka yang menjadi penumpang.