George Lucas may be going a little Dr. Frankenstein and not just in the hubris department.  Actor-director Mel Smith tells Mail Online [via AICN],

"He’s been buying up the film rights to dead movie stars in the hope of using computer trickery to put them all together in a movie, so you’d have Orson Welles and Barbara Stanwyck appear alongside today’s stars.’ Whether Lucas’ attempt to superimpose the golden-era stars on to today’s screens is doomed to failure or not, Smith will be too busy to be part of it."

Lucas wrote the story and executive produced Smith's 1994 film, Radioland Murders.  Hit the jump for what Smith had to say about the experience and his thoughts on Lucas' reliance on digital effects.

Here's what Smith had to say about Radioland Murders:

"The film was a disaster. George doesn’t understand comedy, so the movie flopped. At least it taught me how to use CGI. George is obsessed with it and used too much in the last two Star Wars films — which I thought were ghastly."

I would say that Lucas doesn't understand intentional comedy.  Having Darth Vader scream "Nooooo!" is unintentional-comedy gold.

As for Lucas' digital necromancy, I think it's a moot point as to whether it's a good idea or not since Lucas is an awful writer and director.  He'll put so much effort into making the effect look convincing that he'll forget little things like "story" and "character".  It won't sully the memory of legendary actors.  It will just make Lucas look even worse.

[Image above is animated deceased Orson Welles from The Critic]