Star Wars: Rogue One might include an “eerie” CGI Peter Cushing reprising the actor’s role as Moff Tarkin.
In the pantheon of genre actors, Peter Cushing was easily one of the best. A mainstay of the Hammer Horror films, he became well known for a variety of roles including Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Who and, of course, Dracula’s nemesis Van Helsing. Of all of his roles however, perhaps the most iconic was his performance as Moff Tarkin in the original Star Wars. While only present in the first film, the cold and calculating Imperial commander would leave a tremendous impression on fans and remains one of the franchise’s most beloved villains. It should serve as little surprise, in turn, that Disney and Lucasfilm might soon be bringing Tarkin back.
While neither company has yet to officially confirm it, sources have reported to the media that 2016’s stand-alone spin-off film Star Wars: Rogue One will feature a digital version of the actor reprising the famous role. If the anonymous source can be believed, it won’t be just a bit part either. “This is one of the most complex and costly CGI re-creations ever,” they said. “Cushing is a pivotal plot line as he was the one to create Darth Vader and there’s a whole back story that will come out.” They further indicated that the film’s creators are sparing no effort to make the CGI version of the actor as realistic and lifelike as possible. “They are going through hours and hours of old footage,” explained the source.. “It is eerie to see someone who has been dead for so long come to life on a screen.” Cushing himself, of course, passed away in 1994 from prostate cancer.
While some might dispute whether or not it’s really necessary to bring Tarkin back, there are some arguably understandable reasons that he film’s makers would want him involved. Tarkin, in both the movies and the current novel canon, was easily the person most instrumental to the construction of the first Death Star. With Rogue One focusing on the heist that stole the Death Star plans, it would almost be weird to not have his character there in some capacity. What remains to be seen (assuming this rumor is true) is how well the fake-Cushing will fool audiences. Tarkin has appeared as a digital character in both the Clone Wars and Rebels cartoon series, but the CGI for that more stylized and far less realistic than what they’ll need for Rogue One. Technology has certainly advanced in recent years, but it will still be interesting to see if Disney and Lucasfilm can defy the uncanny valley for an entire film.
Source: The Daily Mail
