Legal battle over Peter Cushing's resurrected role

A HORROR film company is suing for £200,000 after Peter Cushing was "resurrected" in Star Wars spin-off Rogue One.

- Richard Gittins

Cushing, who died of cancer in 1994 aged 81, starred in numerous chilling Hammer outings from the 1950s to the 1970s, notably as Dr Van Helsing in five Dracula movies.

He also appeared in the first Star Wars film in 1977 as Grand Moff Tarkin, the imperial officer in charge of the Death Star.

His character was later "recreated" using special effects for 2016's $1billion-grossing Rogue One.

But Disney companies Lucasfilm and Lunak Heavy Industries (UK), which made Rogue One, are now being sued, along with the executors of Cushing's estate and his former agent.