A British producer has filed a lawsuit against Disney over certain methods used on Rogue One.
Last really good film of the license Star Wars to be released in cinemas, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story dates back to 2016. With a budget of $200 million, the film grossed over $1 billion at the global box office, in addition to being a real critical success. So at the time, we thought it was the return of a Great Star Wars, where the parallel stories would come to play on an equal footing with the first trilogy, until the flop of this film Star Wars come and question everything.
Directed by the essential Gareth Edwards, and carried by Felicity Jones, Diego Luna and Donnie Yen, the film recounted the horrors of the Rebel Alliance before the episode IV: A New Hopeand how the Rebels had managed to get their hands on the plans for the Death Star. A brilliant film, including in the series Andor is the prequel. But as great as it was, Rogue One is now the cause of legal proceedings against Disney.
For those about to Rogue One
This is the very serious site The Times who, in an article dated September 9, 2024, revealed the following affair. According to the English producer Kevin Francis, known for the production of some British horror films in the 70s/80s (The Ghoul, Persecution), his friend Peter Cushing reportedly never agreed to appear posthumously in the film Rogue One. 22 years after his death, Rogue One had in fact brought him back from the Shadow Realm to have him once again play the role of the sadistic Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, Palpatine’s trusted man.
Thanks to advances in technology, the Grand Moff was able to be brought back to life, and Peter Cushing returned for a posthumous performance, all in computer-generated images, 40 years after having played Tarkin in the cinema. A performance that had not been without raising many ethical considerations, since playing Lazarus with a cinema icon is not insignificant. Unfortunate coincidence, the late Carrie Fisher would be entitled to the same treatment after her death, to appear again in episodes 8 and 9 of the saga.
A friend who wants the best for you
According to Kevin Francis’ statements, Peter Cushing, who he said was a close friend of his, would never have agreed to the use of his face and a CGI Lazarus-style resurrection. He adds that Cushing would never have signed such a contract without Francis’ agreement.
However, it is impossible not to find it strange the fact that these legal proceedings are taking place more than eight years after the release of Rogue One. Disney reportedly obtained permission from Cushing’s heirs to do so. The Mickey Mouse company also argues that no prior authorization was required under the original contract the actor signed for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New HopeThe actor’s heirs were reportedly paid around $36,000 to obtain the right to reuse his image.
According to what he said to the TimesFrancis Kevin had an agreement (oral or written, formal or informal, we don’t have any details) with Peter Cushing for the reuse of his image. Suffice to say that it would seem more relevant for Francis Kevin to pursue, not Disney, or at least not only, but rather the heirs of Peter Cushing, if this is indeed true.
Of course, a certain sarcasm and cynicism will push us to say that it is better to pursue Disney and its billions of dollars, rather than the heirs of a British actor with an iconic reputation, but not necessarily well-endowed. One thing is certain, Kevin Francis has taken the case to the High Court of the United Kingdom, which has decided that the case can continue. So we will follow this closely.
