Lucasfilm has shot down rumours it is planning to digitally recreate the late Carrie Fisher in the final instalment of the latest Star Wars trilogy.
Before her death last month, Fisher had completed filming on Star Wars: Episode VIII, out in December, but with filming yet to start on Episode IX there are now questions over how filmmakers will deal with her absence.
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Earlier this week the BBC had reported that negotiations were taking place with "unseemly haste" over the use of Fisher's image.
In a rare move, Lucasfilm has since tackled the speculation head on with a statement on Starwars.com.
"We don't normally respond to fan or press speculation but there is a rumour circulating that we would like to address," the statement said. "We want to assure our fans that Lucasfilm has no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher's performance as Princess or General Leia Organa.
"Carrie Fisher was, is, and always will be a part of the Lucasfilm family. She was our princess, our general, and more importantly, our friend. We are still hurting from her loss. We cherish her memory and legacy as Princess Leia, and will always strive to honour everything she gave to Star Wars."
Discussion over the possibility of a digital trickery follows the controversial use in Rogue One of a a digitally rendered Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin and also Fisher as the young Princess Leia from the 1977 original Star Wars.
Reports have circulated that Leia was to have a large role in Episode IX, the final outing of the trilogy, which is scheduled to start shooting next year for a 2019 release. Writer Colin Trevorrow was said to have met Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy this week for discussions about how to proceed, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
![Iconic images: <i>Star Wars</I> starring Mark Hamill, left, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford.](/web/20170116152346im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/9/l/x/4/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtrgx2.png/1484450579670.jpg)
The use of digitally recreated actors who have passed away is an ethical minefield for filmmakers. In 2015, Furious 7 featured a number of scenes featuring a digitally recreated Paul Walker who died in 2013 while the film was shooting. The filmmakers behind The Crow (1994) turned to digital techniques and stunt doubles to complete the movie after lead actor Brandon Lee died following an accident on set with a prop gun.
In an usual legal move, after Robin Williams' death in 2014 it emerged the actor had taken steps to ban the use of his image in any form for 25 years in the event of his passing.