How TV Shows and Movies Adapted After Actor Deaths
Movie franchises and TV series have experienced actors dying during production. It’s a terrible loss and sometimes the production needs to take a break to mourn the loss. However, in show business as always, the show must go on.
When an actor dies mid-production, directors, producers and writers are left with the difficult task of how they should proceed with the project. It’s a delicate situation and they don’t want to be misconstrued as unsympathetic. Nevertheless, they still need to continue with the story for the fans and other cast and crew members.
The Stories After Actor Deaths
Throughout the years, the entertainment industry has coped with the deaths of numerous talented actors by rewriting storylines, minimizing the actors’ roles and screen times, and relying on technology to finish the project.
Here are some ways movie franchises and TV shows dealt with actor deaths and how they continued with production.
Paul Walker – Fast and Furious
Paul Walker’s sudden death shocked many, particularly fans of the Fast & Furious franchise, especially since Walker was in the middle of shooting Furious 7. The actor, together with his financial advisor, died in a car crash on November 30, 2013.
Instead of recasting the role of Brian O’Conner, an integral character in the franchise, the filmmakers decided to use technology to complete Walker’s remaining scene by the use of CGI and body doubles including Cody and Caleb, Walker’s brothers. The franchise gave a heartwarming and emotional send-off to Walker where his character and Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel, part ways on a scenic road accompanied by Charlie Puth’s “See You Again.” Fans of the series flocked to theaters to say goodbye to Walker, making the movie the top-grossing installment in the Fast & Furious franchise, per MovieWeb.
Anton Yelchin – Star Trek reboot
Anton Yelchin played the role of Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek reboot films. Unlike Paul Walker, Yelchin finished shooting his part for Star Trek Beyond (2016) before his untimely death on June 19, 2016, from a freak vehicular accident. However, announcements have already been made about the studio’s plans for a fourth Star Trek movie.
J.J. Abrams, Star Trek producer, told Variety (via Wired) that they will not recast the role of Chekov. “I would say there’s no replacing him. There’s no recasting. I can’t possibly imagine that, and I think Anton deserves better.” Since the film was intended as a tribute to Leonard Nimoy, the original Commander Spock, the movie became a tragic tribute to Yelchin too. The credit tributes read for the actor deaths, “In Loving Memory of Leonard Nimoy” before changing to “For Anton.”
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Hunger Games
Philip Seymour Hoffman was cast as Plutarch Havensbee in The Hunger Games franchise. He first appeared in the second installment, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and was set to reprise his role for The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2 before his death on February 2, 2014, because of an accidental drug overdose.
Director Francis Lawrence told Empire Magazine via Yahoo! News, “He had two substantial scenes left and the rest were appearances in other scenes. We had no intention of trying to fake a performance, so we rewrote those scenes to give to other actors… The rest, we just didn’t have him appear in those scenes. There’s no digital manipulation or CG fabrication of any kind.” One of the scenes where Hoffman’s character was supposed to appear was after *spoiler alert* Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) assassinated President Coin (Julianne Moore). Instead, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) came to give Katniss a letter from Havensbee and explained his absence was because of political reasons but he supported her actions.
Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther
Chadwick Boseman played Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2016 which progressed to stage 4 before 2020. He died from complications on August 28, 2020. His death was a surprise to his fans since the actor kept his diagnosis secret. Only family and a few other people were aware of his condition.
Writers Ryan Coogler (also the director) and Joe Robert Cole completely rewrote the script of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to 2018’s Black Panther. Instead of recasting the role, the film began with T’Challa (Boseman) dying from an illness and Shuri (Letitia Wright) taking the mantle of the Black Panther which is a story arc based on the comics. The end credits showed “Dedicated to our friend Chadwick Boseman.” Coogler also mentioned in his interview with Den of Geek that “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a tribute not just to Boseman but to the resiliency and determination of the rest of the cast to honor his memory.”
William Hurt – MCU
Another MCU actor who passed away while a part of the MCU with several projects lined up is William Hurt. Hurt was Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross from 2008 to 2021 and appeared in The Incredible Hulk in 2008, Captain America: Civil War in 2016, Avengers: Infinity War in 2018, Avengers: Endgame in 2019 and Black Widow in 2021. He died on March 13, 2022 from terminal prostrate cancer. Many celebrities paid tribute to the Academy award-winning actor including his MCU co-stars.
Harrison Ford is set to fill Hurt’s role in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World per New York Post. Ford said he joined the MCU because, “I thought, ‘Everybody else seems to be having a great time.’ I watch all these terrific actors having a good time.”
Luke Perry – Riverdale
Riverdale addressed Luke Perry’s death with his character on the show, Fred Andrews dying too. On February 27, 2019, Perry died because of a stroke. When Riverdale returned for its fourth season, its first episode was a tribute to Perry, with a cameo from Shannen Doherty, Perry’s Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star (who sadly passed away earlier this year).
Perry’s death as Fred Andrews was done in the most heroic of ways, he was struck by a car helping someone. The show paid tribute to Perry and his character with a parade and videos and photos of Perry and Fred Andrews.
Actor deaths while filming a movie or TV show are incredibly difficult for the cast and crew not only on how to continue with the project but saying goodbye to an actor who they’ve already considered a family or a friend. With the creative ways the entertainment industry has dealt with these actor deaths, they made sure these actors’ contributions will still be remembered for the years to come.
