The Games will proceed. The production company behind The Hunger Games movie franchise has reportedly found a solution for the remaining scenes left incomplete by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. According to Page Six, Lionsgate plans to digitally-recreate Hoffman — who played head gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee in the series — for one major scene in Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.
The studio will use CGI technology to edit the film rather than rewriting the script, or hiring a new actor to take Hoffman's place, Page Six reported Thursday, Feb. 6. The beloved actor was set to reprise his role as Heavensbee in Parts 1 and 2 of Mockingjay. While Hoffman had already completed most of his scenes for Part 1, he still had seven days left to shoot on Part 2.
"These days the technology of using someone's likeness is a whole lot easier to do," veteran special effects supervisor Rob Legato speculated Monday, Feb. 3 to The Hollywood Reporter. "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."
Elizabeth Banks, who plays Effie Trinket in the series, discussed the loss of her Hunger Games costar on Wednesday's Today show: "I really am in shock," she said. "He is an absolutely amazing actor, respected by everyone and part of our family at The Hunger Games."
The Oscar-winning actor first appeared in 2013's Catching Fire. Hoffman, who was found dead at 46 in his NYC apartment on Sunday, Feb. 2 from an apparent heroin overdose, will be honored in a private funeral service. He leaves behind his estranged girlfriend Mimi O'Donnell and three children, Cooper, 10, Tallulah, 7, and Willa, 5.
