Death is something that nobody has any control over. It comes at you like a bullet. Fast and unseen until the job is done. Even when you can even see it coming, the impact still rocks you to the core. But death has a particularly hard-hitting effect on the film industry in a very tragic way. It's one thing if a key actor is sick and can't come to set for a few days. But what happens to a film or franchise when a key actor dies when they have so much left to contribute to the story being told? In this edition of the porter report, I wanted to take a closer look at what the deaths of actors do to the films and subsequent franchises they are tied to. Some are minor, some are major but all leave a hole in the industry that can't be filled no matter how hard people try. Let's get a much deeper perspective on death's role in the direction of various cinematic properties.
significant effect on future projects and the crew they bonded with during production. But there are times where tragedy can create opportunities for others. An example can be found a little over 2 decades ago in the Harry Potter franchise. Around the time of the first few films, the franchise was finding its footing with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The notable thing about those two films is the two men that brought the character of Albus Dumbledore to life. Richard Harris made a terrific first impression in the first two films with his kind and grounded demeanor. He captured the warmness of the character while also being a guide in Harry's journey. Harris's performance stood out and was a great establishment to build off of moving forward. The reason being that Harris tragically passed away in 2002 leaving a hole to fill in a role he helped originate. Thankfully, Michael Gambon lived up to the challenge and the expectations to become the quintessential Dumbledore moving forward. Gambon still maintains that kind of uplifting persona with an additional edge that was added as the following films continued to get darker. While Gambon is known as the best incarnation of the character, Harris's performance in the first two films layed the foundation for what was to come.
There are times however where an actor's death can change the course of a series' future dramatically. The films that follow could lose a lot more than just a character. It could lose a viable piece of its DNA especially if that person has been there since the beginning. The Fast and Furious franchise experienced that in 2013 with the tragic death of Paul Walker. Walker's death hit a lot of people hard including me. A humble guy who was always kind, hardworking, and loved his cast and crew. His death changed the course that the fast and furious franchise in a big way. Sure, the film Furious 7 was delayed a year, but after the release of that film, there was a lot of uncertainty around how or if the series would continue. The series indeed moved forward with Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious putting out touching tribute to Walker but the hole that he and his character left is still felt to this day. With the series close to wrapping up within the next few years, one has to wonder what the series would be like if Walker was still in the driver's seat.
to known IPs. One of the most notable and tragic deaths in recent memory is the passing of Heath Ledger. Ledger's performance as the Joker is regarded as one of the greatest performances in modern cinema. A performance so iconic that few actors are able to come close to matching the brilliance that was put on display. That goes double for those who picked up the mantle following his performance such as Jared Leto and Juaquin Pehonix a few years back. The Dark Knight is considered one of the greatest superhero movies of all time mainly due to Ledger's portrayal of the clown prince of crime. But it also begs the question: What if Heath was still here? I pondered this for years and I never got a clear answer. There is no telling what this incarnation of the Batman franchise would have been if Heath continued on living and playing the character. It could have continued and expanded by introducing more iconic villains in the future or bringing a proper Robin into the series with Barbara Gordon following. Heck, if Ledger still lives, does Ben Affleck even become Batman? There are so many scenarios that could occur but the reality is that no one really knows how it would have played out. Who knows what Christopher Nolan had planned for the future of this character and his version of Gotham City. ended Nolan's run with the caped crusader but one can only ponder what a future with a still-living Ledger would have looked like if plans to continue the story after The Dark Knight Rises were on the table.
While it is true that coming in with a solid gameplan creates a strong blueprint to follow for your franchise, key actor deaths can make those plans obsolete or useless. Plans can change at the drop of a hat sure but when a member of the ensemble passes, it can deter or even alter anything you had in store waiting in the wings. A big example of this can be found in one of the most notable franchises in entertainment today Star Wars. A notable tragedy this past decade involving this series was the death of Carrie Fisher in December of 2016. Her passing rocked Star Wars fandom to the core. Fisher's performance as Princess Leia was iconic not just within Star Wars but Hollywood as well. A firecracker of a personality that burned through the screen and into the hearts of so many people. Her death also changed the future of the Sequel Trilogy which, at the time of her death, had Episode VIII completed and a year from release with Episode IX still in pre-production. Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow was chosen to lead the film at the time. But following her death, creative differences led to his departure with JJ Abrams being brought aboard to close out the trilogy.
Lucasfilm had the intention of having 3 different directors helm 7, 8, and 9 respectively but Fisher's passing tarnished those established plans and the original endgame for the sequel installments. The thing that continues to puzzle and annoy me about the discussions among Star Wars fans and proclaimed film analysts specifically around the trilogy's last installment The Rise of Skywalker is that neither group seems to take into consideration that Fisher's death had a dramatic effect on that film nor the ending of this Star Wars trilogy. She may not play a huge role in the new story in an effort to give the new characters, but her presence is still throughout the story. Leia is a huge part of the franchise's legacy and losing the actress that made her so iconic is obviously going to hurt and make future stories involving her difficult to conceive. Trevorrow obviously had plans for how to wrap up the sequel trilogy but Fisher's death complicated the matter. I'm very convinced if Carrie Fisher wasn't tragically taken from us, we would have gotten a Star Wars Episode IX that was directed by Trevorrow. Unfortunately, that isn't the reality we inhabit. Colin was out in September 2017 and JJ Abrams was brought in to finish what he started soon after. JJ's decision to utilize unused footage from Episode VII allowed for Fisher and her character to be a presence in the film despite the void of not having her in the flesh. Despite the avalanche of baggage that followed the release of Episode IX, the disregard of the fact that Fisher's passing having any effect on the end of the trilogy is particularly upsetting and has made discussions about the sequels as a whole a psychological chore that gets more tiresome by the day. Talk about the original script by Trevorrow or the supposed lack of a plan all you want but tragic circumstances like this make the arguments mentioned rightfully null and void. Just something for people to consider before they go off on their vitriolic bashing campaign.
No one really knows what the impact an actor's death will have on a film. They are a vital member of the crew and one of the essential elements in crafting a world fans can get lost in. Time on this planet is short especially in these days. Actors and actresses contribute a lot to our entertainment but also to our happiness and the joy we experience. We would all be wise to appreciate them in life and be thankful for the moments we still have left with them before we see them take their eternal final bow.
