Lucasfilm Has 'No Plans' To Digitally Recreate Carrie Fisher For 'Star Wars' Sequels

Disney subsidiary Lucasfilm have made the rare move of responding to fan and media speculation regarding the late Carrie Fisher's future role in the Star Wars film franchise.

In a statement released on the series' website, the company dismissed rumours that it was seeking the rights to Fisher's digital image for use in the next two main Star Wars movies in the wake of the actor's death at the age of 60 back in December.

"We don’t normally respond to fan or press speculation, but there is a rumor circulating that we would like to address," the statement read. "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 honor everything she gave to Star Wars."

Following Fisher's passing, concern emerged among fans that the company would seek to use Fisher's digital image to complete the newly begun sequel trilogy. Fisher's role as Leia Organa was said to be a central one in both Episode VIII and Episode IX, with the latter apparently carrying greater importance.

The concerns were arguably not entirely unfounded, either: a younger version of Fisher was digitally created to appear briefly in the recently released Rogue One, though she was still alive during that film's production, while the late Peter Cushing received an outright digital revival in the same movie as his iconic character Grand Moff Tarkin.