Disney, owner of the Star Wars franchise, could receive a $50 million insurance payout for the death of actress Carrie Fisher, Aol reported.

The American conglomerate is expected to receive the $50 million contract protection insurance it took with Lloyd's of London on the likelihood that Fisher couldn't complete her Star Wars filming, The Telegraph said.

Fisher, 60,  signed a three-picture deal to play the role of Princess Leia in the new Star Wars trilogy. She died on 27 December following a heart attack she suffered four days earlier on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

Fisher starred in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and had completed her scenes for Star Wars: Episode VIII. The production on Episode IX hasn't started yet, however.

Disney did not say whether Star Wars actors Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford have similar policies, the report said.

It also yet unclear on how the franchise will address Leia in the trilogy's last installment, Aol reported.

In the first standalone Star Wars movie, Rogue One, the late Peter Cushing was brought to life on screen using digital effects to reprise his role as Grand Moff Tarkin from the original 1977 Star Wars movie.

However, John Knoll, chief creative officer of Industrial Light and Magic (creator of CG Tarkin), said that they are not planning to use the effect often. “We're not planning in doing this digital recreation extensively from now on,” he said. “It just made sense for this particular movie.”

Star Wars: Episode VIII is set to hit the screen on 17 December this year.



Photo: Riccardo Ghilardi