WhileRogue One: A Star Wars Storywas nothing short of a smash hit, both critically and commercially, there were some aspects of the film that rubbed fans the wrong way. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the movie was the use of CGI technology to re-create a younger version ofCarrie Fisher’sPrincess Leia, and the latePeter Cushing’s iconic character Gran Moff Tarkin. While this may have upset some fans, directorGareth Edwardsrevealed today that it didn’t upsetCarrie Fisher, who actually didn’t know that the Leia in the movie was created through CGI.
The production used stand-ins for each role, withGuy Henryportraying Tarkin andIngvild Deilaplaying Leia, before CGI was used to digitally replace the actors' faces. While promoting the Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD release ofRogue One, directorGareth Edwardsspoke withFandango, where he revealed thatCarrie Fisherherself didn’t even know it was a CGI rendering of her 19-year-old self. Here’s what the director had to say
“Kathy Kennedyis really good friends with her. We knew it was a really important moment and we wantedCarrieto be happy, so Kathy went to her house with her laptop when we felt the shot was close, if not finished. We had about two weeks left, andKathywent around her house and everyone was waiting to hear.Kathysaid she showed it to her andCarriethought it was footage. She didn’t realize it was CGI. She thought we had some footage. She didn’t remember the take and thought we had manipulated a take from the original film. But they told her it was all computer generated and she was really impressed. We were all just so pleased she approved it.”
Back in January, just a few days after the iconicCarrie Fisherpassed away, ILM’sJohn Knollrevealed thatKathleen Kennedyhad in fact shownCarrie Fisherthe footage, and that she loved it, but this is the first time we heard that she thought Leia’s cameo was put together through existing footage. The actress had already shot her scenes forStar Wars: The Last Jedibefore her passing, but there was a recent report that claimed the actress still had two pivotal scenes to shoot that were in eitherStar Wars: The Last JediorStar Wars: Episode IX.
LucasFilm also released a rare statement in January shooting down rumors that the studio is planning on digitally re-creatingLeia OrganaforStar Wars: Episode IX. The statement also reveled that the company was still “hurting” from her loss, and that they intend to “cherish her memory and legacy as Princess Leia, and will always strive to honor everything she gave toStar Wars”. Despite the mild controversy swirling around these CGI renderings ofRogue One: A Star Wars Story, the movie was a surefire hit at the box office, taking in $530.1 million domestically and $1.05 billion worldwide.
