Film producer Barry Nolan has filed a lawsuit against Disney for using the likeness of actor Peter Cushing in the Star Wars film “Rogue One,” despite Cushing passing away over two decades ago. The lawsuit alleges that Disney digitally recreated Cushing’s likeness without his estate’s permission, violating his right of publicity.
Peter Cushing, known for his role as Grand Moff Tarkin in the original Star Wars film, “A New Hope,” passed away in 1994. In “Rogue One,” which was released in 2016, Cushing’s likeness was brought back through the use of CGI technology to reprise his role as Tarkin. While some fans appreciated the homage to the original character, others raised concerns about the ethics of using a deceased actor’s likeness without consent.
Nolan, who has produced several films featuring deceased actors brought back to life through CGI, claims that Disney’s actions set a dangerous precedent for the industry. He argues that without proper authorization from the actor’s estate, using their likeness posthumously is a violation of their rights. The lawsuit seeks damages for the unauthorized use of Cushing’s likeness and aims to hold Disney accountable for their actions.
This lawsuit brings to light the ethical and legal implications of using CGI to bring back deceased actors in films. It raises questions about who has the right to control an actor’s likeness after their death and the responsibility of filmmakers to obtain proper authorization. As technology continues to advance, the debate over the use of CGI to recreate deceased actors is likely to intensify, prompting further discussion and legal action in the future. Disney has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
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