Familiar Faces in Rogue One (SPOILERS)

[silverscreenselect]

We saw Rogue One today and what immediately struck me was the extensive role that "Peter Cushing" had in the movie. Cushing, who died in 1994, played the Death Star commander Tarkin in the first Star Wars movie. Since Rogue One is a direct prequel, the character shows up again here as well, but rather than merely recast the role, the filmmakers (with the approval of Cushing's estate), used motion capture and digital effects to recreate Cushing's image on the face of another actor Guy Henry (who bears a slight resemblance to Cushing). The effect isn't perfect, but it's usually very good, and the scenes in which Tarkin has conversations with other characters work well. I've seen other examples of dead actors, including Paul Walker and Oliver Reed, appearing in other movies, but never to this extent and this well.

At the end of the film, a young Princess Leia appears for a few seconds as well, looking like the young Carrie Fisher from the first movie as well. That effect will likely resonate more with audiences now, but it wasn't as difficult.

The producers say that the practical difficulties make it unlikely the effect will become common any time in the near future (and some people have criticized the entire concept as ghoulish), but I got to thinking whether this might be used again if additional footage of Leia is needed in one of the upcoming movies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/movie ... arkin.html

[jarnon]

Other familiar characters appear briefly: Princess Leia's father (Jimmy Smits), R2D2, C3PO and of course Darth Vader. They help this stand-alone movie fit into the Star Wars galaxy.

[Bob Juch]

Did you notice Warwick Davis?

[earendel]

Other familiar characters appear briefly: Princess Leia's father (Jimmy Smits), R2D2, C3PO and of course Darth Vader. They help this stand-alone movie fit into the Star Wars galaxy.

Not to mention "Red Leader", "Gold Leader", and Porkins - all of whom were added compliments of unused footage from "A New Hope".

[silverscreenselect]

Other familiar characters appear briefly: Princess Leia's father (Jimmy Smits), R2D2, C3PO and of course Darth Vader. They help this stand-alone movie fit into the Star Wars galaxy.

Not to mention "Red Leader", "Gold Leader", and Porkins - all of whom were added compliments of unused footage from "A New Hope".

But the level of technical wizardry needed to recreate Cushing's face in several scenes goes far beyond hiring James Earl Jones to do some new dialogue or adding some outtakes from the earlier film.

[earendel]

Other familiar characters appear briefly: Princess Leia's father (Jimmy Smits), R2D2, C3PO and of course Darth Vader. They help this stand-alone movie fit into the Star Wars galaxy.

Not to mention "Red Leader", "Gold Leader", and Porkins - all of whom were added compliments of unused footage from "A New Hope".

But the level of technical wizardry needed to recreate Cushing's face in several scenes goes far beyond hiring James Earl Jones to do some new dialogue or adding some outtakes from the earlier film.

I agree, and thought Cushing's CGI was well done. Fisher's, OTOH, looked a little creepy to me.

[thguy65]

Behind the scenes video of the CGI used for recreating Tarkin.

http://ew.com/movies/2017/01/05/rogue-o ... ie-fisher/


- Tim H.

[lilclyde54]

Very informative.

[silverscreenselect]

Lucasfilm says it has no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher in future Star Wars films. Of course, this might mean that her character dies during the next film.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movi ... /96566178/