The accident involving Harrison Ford today made me wonder what happens if a main character in a movie dies or is seriously injured halfway or two thirds into filming a movie? I am sure this has happened but I cant think of any examples. Are there any examples?

Yes, and it is an incredibly offensive way to handle the situation. Bruce Lee died very early in production and the project was abandoned. If I recall correctly, most of the original cast and crew didn't come back when it was decided that the film was going to be finished years after Lee'a death. I don't think anyone expected the project to be revived, considering more than 3/4 of principle photography had yet to take place. This film was bankrolling off his death, billing itself as the last Bruce Lee movie. They had another actor play the character and he wore glasses the entire movie. There is some compositing of Bruce's face in the beginning, but not for long. It looks like shit. So anyway, this jabroni who replaces Lee wears glasses most of the film -even at night- and there is a plot point that has him donning a fake beard for awhile written in.

Tastelessness aside, there are some eerie parallels from Bradon Lee's death that reflect the way Bruce Lee's character is injured in the film. "Bruce Lee"'s character is an action star and during a day of filming, an assassination attempt occurs. This written assassination attempt mirrors the death of his son, Brandon Lee, and predates the real tragedy that would take place decades later. InGame of Death, the assassin sneaks onto set and replaces the prop gun with his own. When the film within a film plays out, he is shot for real. Those who know the story of his son's death know he died the same way, minus the malicious planting of a real gun, of course.

Oh, and I just remembered something else! "Bruce Lee" fakes his death after the assassination attempt to throw the bad guys for a loop, as he takes them out one by one. The filmmakers decide to show a scene at the funeral of the action icon within the film. And what do they do? They take amateur footage of real life action icon Bruce Lee's funeral! It's a several minute montage of densely packed streets in Asia, filled with people bawling there eyes out, devastated at the loss of a cultural icon. There are even images of poor Bruce in a transparent glass casket. Some jackwagon thought this would be a tasteful way to go about "finishing" Bruce Lee's movie...

/r/TrueFilm Thread