Disney’s Lucasfilm is being sued for recreating Peter Cushing’s image in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.’
The Times reported that a friend of Cushing said Disney didn’t have permission to use his image in ‘Rogue One.’ Disney tried twice to get the case thrown out but failed on September 9, 2024.
Kevin Francis is suing Lucasfilm through his film company, Tyburn Film Productions. He is also suing the producer of ‘Rogue One,’ the executors of Cushing’s estate, and Cushing’s agency.
Francis said he must approve any use of Cushing’s image based on a 1993 agreement with the actor. This was a year before Cushing died at 81.
Lucasfilm argued that it didn’t need permission because of Cushing’s original contract for ‘Star Wars’ and how the special effects were done. They also paid about $37,000 to Cushing’s estate after his agent contacted them.
On September 9, Judge Tom Mitcheson dismissed the appeal and said the case should go to trial. He added, “I am also not persuaded that the case is unarguable to the standard required to give summary judgment or to strike it out. In an area of developing law it is very difficult to decide where the boundaries might lie in the absence of a full factual enquiry.”
‘Star Wars’ covers many time periods and features actors at different ages. It uses special effects to make actors look younger, like Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. This technology also puts deceased actors into the films.
This includes Cushing as Tarkin and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. Fisher died in 2016 after two of the three Sequel Trilogy movies were made. Disney used special effects and old footage to include her in ‘Star Wars: Episode 9 – The Rise of Skywalker.’
