The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman will not delay “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” and or “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.” He played Plutarch Heavensbee in the Hunger Games series.
Only seven days of filming remained for Hoffman on the set of Part 2, reported The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
All of the filming for Part 1 was already done.
The films are being shot back-to-back.
At the same time, a major scene in Part 2 wasn’t shot yet, Lionsgate insiders told THR.
A Lionsgate said that Hoffman’s death would have “no impact” on completion of the film, though the major scene may have to be re-worked.
A source with ties to the project said that Lionsgate has plans on how to complete Part 2 without Hoffman. ““You can do digital things, you can have conversations where you’re not focusing on him but the people he’s talking to,” the source said.
Rob Legato, a veteran effects supervisor whose latest credit is The Wolf of Wall Street, added that technology is good enough to generate a convincing image of Hoffman for some of the shots, while others would likely need to be re-worked.
“These days the technology of using someone’s likeness is a whole lot easier to do,” he said. “I won’t say you could generate a Philip Seymour Hoffman with all the acting ability, but you could certainly replicate him for a shot or two.”
“Mockingjay Part 1” is slated for a November 21, 2014 release. Part 2 is scheduled for a November 20, 2015 release.
The cast of Hunger Games released a statement in which they said they’re mourning the actor, who died over the weekend from suspected heroin overdose.
“Words cannot convey the devastating loss we are all feeling right now,” the statement said. “Philip was a wonderful person and an exceptional talent, and our hearts are breaking. Our deepest condolences go out to his family.”
