Disney Faces Lawsuit Over Peter Cushing's Likeness

Disney is facing multiple legal challenges over the digital recreation of Peter Cushing's likeness as Grand Moff Tarkin in the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, 22 years after the actor's death. Kevin Francis, a friend of Cushing and a film producer, claims that Cushing had signed an agreement in 1993 prohibiting the use of his likeness without explicit permission. The High Court in London has allowed the case to proceed, with Judge Tom Mitcheson stating it requires a full factual inquiry despite skepticism about its likelihood of success. Additionally, Tyburn Film Productions has filed a lawsuit, alleging that their prior contract with Cushing gave them the right to veto any such digital recreation. Disney argues that the terms of Cushing's original contract and a subsequent agreement with his estate justify their actions. The outcome of these lawsuits could set significant precedents regarding the rights to deceased actors' images in an age of advanced visual effects.