Disney Faces Lawsuit Over Use of Peter Cushing’s Likeness in ‘ROGUE ONE’
Disney is at the center of a legal battle after being sued for its use of late actor Peter Cushing’s likeness in the 2016 film *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story*. Kevin Francis, a long-time friend and confidant of Cushing, has filed the lawsuit, claiming that Disney did not have the proper authorization to digitally recreate Cushing’s appearance as Grand Moff Tarkin in the film.
Francis alleges that Cushing, who passed away in 1994, had explicitly agreed not to grant permission for his likeness to be used after his death without Francis’ authorization. According to Francis, the agreement between him and Cushing was made with the understanding that the actor’s image would be protected from being digitally reproduced or manipulated without strict oversight.
In *Rogue One*, Cushing’s iconic character was brought back to life using advanced CGI, sparking discussions about the ethical implications of using deceased actors in films. While many praised the technology for its realism, others raised concerns about the exploitation of an actor’s image without their consent.
Francis claims that Disney and Lucasfilm, the studio behind *Rogue One*, violated Cushing’s wishes by proceeding with the digital recreation without his permission. He is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent further use of Cushing’s likeness without proper authorization.
Disney has not yet commented on the lawsuit, but the case is expected to reignite debates about the ethics of using CGI to resurrect deceased actors for new roles. As technology advances, the legal and moral questions surrounding the rights to a person’s image and legacy are becoming increasingly important in the entertainment industry.
Fans of Cushing, as well as legal experts, are now closely watching how the case will unfold and what impact it might have on future uses of digital likenesses in Hollywood.
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