Rogue One: A Star Wars Storydirector Tony Gilroy has revealed the revolutionary technology that recreated Peter Cushing’s Grand Moff Tarkin has actually been discarded. Industrial Light & Magic used revolutionary CGI technology to bring back the late Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin inRogue One, and it was widely seen as kicking off a massive ethical debate. It’s still controversial to this day, withLucasfilm sued over theRogue Onecameoearlier this year.
Speaking to Empire Magazine, though,Rogue Onedirector Tony Gilroy has revealed that technology is now massively out of date.
“What’s interesting is, all of the technology that went into Tarkin, that was like a Manhattan Project.All of that technology has been discarded.The moment machine-learning came in, they don’t do it that way at all [now]. It was like building steam-cars and building the best steam-car you could possibly ever do - then someone comes along and says, ‘We have gasoline that works a little bit better.’ Now it’s completely upended.”
Rogue One’s Moff Tarkin Idea Wasn’t As Ground-Breaking For Star Wars As We Thought
AI has completely replaced this technology
Gilroy is clearly referring to the development of AI, which is clearly having a transformative impact on VFX. It’s no real surprise that Industrial Light & Magic’s technology is cutting edge; it always has been, with George Lucas himself pushing them to experiment with every new technology as it emerges.Rogue One’s Grand Moff Tarkin emerged when AI was still at an early stage, so different techniques were used.
There’s intense speculation that Gilroy is speaking from experience. He’s spent the last few years working onAndor, theRogue Oneprequel, andmany believe Grand Moff Tarkin will return inAndorseason 2- albeit presumably created using modern technology. Gilroy refuses to confirm this, but Tarkin certainly feels a natural fit for the story he’s currently telling.
The Debates Opened By Rogue One’s CGI Tarkin Still Matter
The ethical controversy still rages
The technology may have changed, butthe ethical debates remain the same: should technology really be used to recreate those who have passed away? Lucasfilm chose not to do this after the death of Carrie Fisher, instead recycling unused footage for General Leia Organa and bringing on board her daughter Billie Lourd for a flashback scene. When does a CGI or AI recreation cease to become disrespectful? Where are the lines drawn?
If anything, the advancement of AI technology has made these questions all the more pressing. Some actors are vehemently opposed to the idea of AI recreations after their death, withRobert Downey, Jr warning any replacements will lead to lawsuits. Meanwhile, some studios are signing contracts now that explicitly authorize AI recreations. The emerging status quo is a complicated and confusing one, and the debate fromRogue One: A Star Wars Storyarguably prefigured it.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Cast
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a standalone film set in the Star Wars universe, where a group of resistance fighters, led by Jyn Erso, embarks on a mission to steal the Death Star plans. This pivotal event sets the stage for the iconic saga to follow.
