In a statement, Lucasfilms confirmed that it had no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher’s performance as Princess or General Leia Organa.
The full text of the statement on StarWars.com reads:
A STATEMENT REGARDING NEW RUMORS
We don’t normally respond to fan or press speculation, but there is a rumor circulating that we would like to address. 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.
Fan speculation had grew following Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’s use of CGI to digitally reincarnate Peter Cushing’s likeness as Grand Moff Tarkin. The move didn’t go well with critics or fans (including this one – who watched the movie in Imax 3D and felt that both Grand Moff Tarkin and young Princess Leia Organa looked plasticky).The Twitterverse erupted and critics have called it everything from “distracting” , to “grave-robbing”, to even “terrifying for all the wrong reasons.”