Even if tweens these days aren’t aware of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s masterful canon, they know who he is now because of his role as a major character, Plutarch Heavensbee, in “The Hunger Games” films.
Hoffman appeared in “Catching Fire,” but has a pivotal role as Katniss’ (Jennifer Lawrence) mentor in the two remaining films in the series.
The actor’s tragic and sudden death on Sunday from an apparent heroin overdose left one crucial scene in “Mockingjay Part 2” unfinished, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
But a Lionsgate studio executive says that they won’t announce what scene it is.”Why would I want to give people something to look for two years from now?” he told THR. Hoffman apparently had just seven more days of filming to go on the series.
“We’re all extraordinarily sad,” the exec said. “But as it relates to production, it’s going to have no impact. Obviously, we’re going to have a couple of work-around issues but the movie will be creatively whole. His performances in both [remaining] movies will be up to the best of his craft. We feel it will be a good tribute to him.”
Special effects vet Rob Legato who recently worked on “Wolf of Wall Street” said that it won’t be difficult to replicate Hoffman.
“These days the technology of using someone’s likeness is a whole lot easier to do,” Legato told THR. “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.”
Universal Studios is also reworking “Fast and Furious 7” without its lead Paul Walker, who died in a car accident this past November.