The untimely death of Carrie Fisher at the end of December brought shock and grief to her fans, but it posed other problems for film executives with an extensive Star Wars franchise lined up.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story famously featured Peter Cushing, despite the fact the actor had died in 1994. Disney used a combination of digital effects to change the appearance of actor Guy Henry to appear as Cushing's character, so that it seemed as if Cushing was acting from beyond the grave.

Newsnight reports that Disney could be discussing doing the same thing with Fisher, who returned to the Star Wars franchise in JJ Abrams' 2015 film, The Force Awakens, as General Leia Organa.