Disney is expected to be awarded one of the largest insurance payouts in history after reports it took out a $41m (£33.4m) policy on Carrie Fisher.

The company, which bought Lucasfilm in 2012, took out a policy with Lloyds of London to protect it from any losses if the actress was unable to fulfil her contract to appear in the new Star Wars trilogy, the trade magazine Insurance Insider reported.

The 60-year-old, who renewed her role as Princess Leia — known as General Organa in the 2015 film The Force Awakens — died in hospital four days after suffering a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

Fisher had already completed filming for the second of the new movies, known as Episode VIII and due to be released in December 2017, but fans had expected her to appear in the third movie, which has not yet begun filming.

Insurance contracts covering major film companies for the unexpected death or incapacity of stars are not unusual in the movie industry.

It is currently unclear how Disney will respond to Fisher’s death — she was slated to have a major role in Episode IX — and they could use a CGI recreation of her as they did in the Star Wars spin-off Rogue One which was released in December.

Star Wars is not the first Hollywood movie franchise to be threatened by the unexpected death of a star.

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher Show all 9 1 /9 Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher American actor and singer Debbie Reynolds smiles and holds her infant daughter, Carrie Fisher Getty Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher American actress Debbie Reynolds with her daughter Carrie Fisher Getty Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher Actress Debbie Reynolds, poses with her children Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher Getty Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher arrive at the premiere of 'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith' Getty Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher Actress Carrie Fisher and her mother, actress Debbie Reynolds Getty Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher Actress Debbie Reynolds accepts the Life Achievement Award from her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher onstage at the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Getty Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher Actresses Carrie Fisher, Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award recipient Debbie Reynolds, and Billie Lourd pose in the press room during the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California Getty Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher A candle is seen on the star for Debbie Reynolds on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California Getty Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher A view of a temporary star made by fans in tribute to actress Carrie Fisher on Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California Getty

The final instalment of The Hunger Games series lost one of its stars, Philip Seymour Hoffman, in 2014 but was able to release its final movie, Mockingjay Pt 2, as he had filmed most of his scenes prior to his death.