Francis Lawrence thinks using CGI to increase the presence of Philip Seymour Hoffman in 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1' would have been "catastrophic."
The acclaimed actor passed away in February at the age of 46, midway through filming on the Hollywood blockbuster, but director Francis rejected plans to complete his missing scenes for the film and for the next instalment - 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2' - using computer trickery, saying the result would not have done justice to his acting ability.
He explained: "He was one of the greatest actors, I think, of all time, and I just think to try to fake a Philip Seymour Hoffman performance would have been catastrophic and I would never want to do that."
The father-of-three - who played Plutarch Heavensbee in the franchise - had two scenes left to be filmed when he died from a mixed drugs overdose.
Francis continued: "He had two scenes with dialogue that were left, and we decided we didn't want to try any kind of digital trickery with him. So we rewrote his scenes and gave his dialogue to other actors."
He added: "I just think this was the best way to be able to get around such a horrible thing."
The director - who also worked on 'I Am Legend' and 'Water for Elephants' - also spoke about the star's particular acting style, which included extensive research and rehearsal.
In a discussion with The Huffington Post, he explained: "He was constantly sort of grinding away at a scene and was able to dig down and down and down, deeper and really find the dynamics of the relationships that he's in,
"And then once you've done that process then you don't really need many takes at all with him."

Arnold Schwarzenegger has ruled out making a sequel to 'Junior'.
The comedy movie - which was critically panned - starred the 67-year-old actor as Dr Alex Hesse, a research geneticist who falls pregnant after taking an unapproved fertility drug, a role which Arnold has promised never to revive.
The former Governor of California said: "There's certain movies that we went a little overboard.
"The fact of the matter is, this is life. You make movies and do things. Some of the stuff is successful, and some stuff go down the toilet."
The father-of-five added that he was expecting the movie - which also starred Danny DeVito and Emma Thompson - to be much better than it actually was when it was released in 1994.
He said: "I've had great successes and a lot of things that went in the toilet and failed. There's no science to the whole thing.
"You read scripts and think it's a great idea, and then when you see it and realise that it's not quite how you envisaged it, you move on."
However, Schwarzenegger - who will reprise his Terminator character in 2015 in 'Terminator: Genisys' - confirmed there will be a 'Twins' sequel, entitled 'Triplets', and also revealed a sequel to futuristic action flick 'The Running Man' is in the pipeline.
During a Q&A in London on Friday evening (14.11.14), he explained: "They're doing a 'Twins' sequel, to be called 'Triplets'. I've read the first draft. There's rumblings of a new 'Running Man' movie, so it's a great honour to be asked back."

One Direction aren't upset their new album has leaked online.
The 'Steal My Girl' quintet release latest LP 'Four' today (17.11.14) but many fans have already heard some of the songs thanks to unauthorised versions being posted on the internet and though they think it's "crazy" it happens every time they have new music, the group don't worry too much.
Liam Payne said: "It's crazy that it happens every time but we try not to get too a***y about it."
Harry Styles added: "Usually it's a couple of days before but this time it was over a week."
One track on the album the group - which also includes Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan - are particularly pleased with is '18', which was written by their friend Ed Sheeran.
Liam told The Sun newspaper: "He sent the song through to Simon Cowell, who sat down with him. It's a great song. It tied into some of the bits we had missed when we were writing the album.
"It was one of the later ones we recorded but it fitted in so well. It's top dollar."
Earlier this year, the 'Little Things' singers embarked on a huge global stadium tour and they enjoyed playing massive venues because it meant they could do fewer shows and have more free time.
Liam said: "We got more time out and got to do a lot more in a lot of countries. This will be the tour we will all remember."

Bette Midler has announced her first UK tour in 35 years.
The 'Wind Beneath My Wings' hitmaker - who last performed in Britain in 1979 and 1980 - will perform five shows in July 2015 in support of her latest album 'It's The Girls'.
And as well as tracks from the record - a tribute to iconic girl groups through the ages - Bette, 68, will also treat fans to numbers from her extensive back catalogue.
She said: "I have always loved visiting and working in the UK. It will be a thrill to finally do a proper UK tour and be back performing here."
The tour kicks off on July 9, 2015 at Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena and calls at Manchester, Glasgow and Leeds before ending at London's The O2 on July 18.
Fans who have purchased 'It's The Girls!' from Bette's online store before 3pm on November 20 will be given the first opportunity to buy tickets for the gigs, ahead of them going on general sale on November 21.
Bette recently admitted she initially refused to record 'Wind Beneath My Wings', which went on to be her biggest hit.
She said: When I first heard 'Wind Beneath my Wings', I thought, 'I'm not singing that.'
"[Long-time friend and producer] Marc Shaiman insisted and it was the biggest hit of my career."

Bette Midler's 2015 UK Tour dates:
09 July - Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham
11 July - Phones 4u Arena, Manchester
13 July - SSE Hydro, Glasgow
15 July - First Direct Arena, Leeds
18 July - The O2, London

The Who are to headline Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park next year.
The 'Baba O'Riley' rockers will take to the Great Oak Stage at the London park on June 26 for the final UK show of their 'Who Hits Fifty' tour, with Paul Weller, Kaiser Chiefs and Johnny Marr also performing that day.
The gig marks the fourth time the band have played there, their third headline appearance plus a slot at Live 8 in 2005, and they are delighted to be returning to Hyde Park.
Pete Townshend said: "It's a good gig. You draw from all over the country but a London crowd is always a good crowd.
"It's a Royal Park so thank you your majesty, you can't play it without her permission."
And the 'My Generation' rockers admitted their headline show in 1996 almost didn't happen after Roger Daltrey fractured his eye socket in rehearsals the day before the gig.
He recalled: "I remember doing it with an eye patch holding my eye in when we did 'Quadrophenia', that was a nightmare. We had a quarter of a million people coming the next day and i've got a fractured cheekbone. How we did that show i'll never know."
The Who are the second British Summer Time headliners to be announced, with Taylor Swift previously revealed to be topping the bill in Hyde Park on June 27.
Tickets for The Who gig go on sale on Thursday (20.11.14) at 9am.

Ian Puleston-Davies has quit 'Coronation Street'.
The 56-year-old actor has told soap bosses he doesn't want to renew his contract and stay in Weatherfield as builder Owen Armstrong because he wants to star in a play he has written.
He said: "Next year I will have been playing Owen Armstrong for five years and it felt like a good point to move on.
"I have returned to my writing and in 2015 hope to put on a new play.
"But I'd never rule out returning to the role of Owen at some point."
Show chiefs are sad to see the actor depart but have promised Owen will be involved in some "fantastic drama" before Ian leaves the cobbles.
Producer Stuart Blackburn said: "We wish Ian all the very best and there is still a lot of fantastic drama to come for him before he leaves."
Ian's hard-hitting drama about drug and alcohol addiction is expected to open in London next summer.
Away from 'Corrie', Ian has been open about his struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and recently admitted it is often "exhausting" coping with the anxiety disorder.
He said recently: "I'm sitting here obsessing about whether my ear is clean, about the stains on the table and how close the guy behind me is sitting.
"It took me ages to just sit down at the table as I was afraid it would break my coccyx on the chair."
"Sometimes, it's exhausting just getting through the day."

Britain's Prince William urged One Direction to photobomb a picture of his wife.
The 32-year-old royal hit it off with the 'Steal My Girl' hitmakers at the Royal Variety Performance in London last week and made the group try to steal the spotlight from his spouse Duchess Catherine - who was known as Kate Middleton before her marriage - while she was getting her photograph taken.
Liam Payne revealed: "Kate was doing a shot with Michael McIntyre but the camera was looking right at us.
"So Wills said, 'I'm sure we can get a couple of photo bombs in here, lads. Let's go for it'."
Niall Horan added: "We were pulling silly faces in the background."
Though they got on well with the royal couple - who are expecting their second child, a sibling for 16-month-old Prince George - the band admit they were nervous before the meeting, in particular Liam.
He told The Sun newspaper: "When we first met them at the start it was so, so scary. My palms were sweating.
"When I was talking to Kate I had to wipe them on the back of my trousers -- but it looked like I was rubbing my a**!"
William also found the time to discuss soccer with the group and even offered to help smooth tensions between Louis Tomlinson and Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor after they fell out when a nasty tackle from the sportsman forced the singer off the pitch during a charity game in September.
Niall said: "We were talking with William about football because he is a Villa fan.
"I told him Louis had had a bit of an altercation with Agbonlahor.
"Then William said, 'Oh, I wasn't going to bring it up but I'll have to have a chat with him'."
Louis joked: "Yeah, that a***hole Agbonlahor -- I got nobbled by him. He said he was going to throw him out actually...
"It was unbelievable. He asked me, 'How's Doncaster doing?'
"At first I didn't realise what he was talking about then I realised he meant Donny Rovers.
"I said, 'Not so great, unfortunately'. But it was amazing that he knew it was my team."

Diplo is "disappointed" Taylor Swift's fans haven't raised any money to pay for him a penis enlargement.
The 36-year-old DJ sparked a row last week when he called for someone to create a fundraising account to help get the 'Shake It Off' singer a new butt, prompting her pal Lorde, 18, to joke about the size of his manhood.
And Diplo - who is believed to be dating Taylor's chart rival Katy Perry - has now hit back, dismissing the 'Royals' singer as a "high school student".
He retweeted Lorde's original comment alongside his own remarks, writing: "'@lordemusic: @diplo should we do something about your tiny penis while we're at it hm' (the moment u realize she's a high school student)."
He then added: "Disappointed the swift boat veterans didn't get my tiny d**k a fundly going (enlarge me bae).(sic)"
Soon after tweeting her response to Diplo last week, Lorde admitted she was expecting an angry reaction and apologised.
She said: "I feel like I'm going to get an angry text message now. Basically he had made some sort of joke kick-starter about getting Taylor Swift a booty and I said we should probably look at him getting that sorted out too."
"I'm sorry, I love you!"
Meanwhile, Diplo - whose real name is Thomas Wesley Pentz - has become a father for the second time after his ex-girlfriend Kathryn Lockhart recently gave birth to a baby boy.
Little Lazer Lee Louis Pentz weighted 8lb 10oz and is a brother for the former couple's older son Lockett, four.

Colin Farrell is campaigning for gay marriage rights in Ireland.
The Hollywood actor is putting his support behind a 'yes' vote in his native country because he believes in equal rights for the LGBT community and was dismayed when his openly gay brother Eamon had to go to Canada to legally marry his partner.
Writing in the Sunday World newspaper, he revealed: "The fact that my brother had to leave Ireland to have his dream of being married become real is insane.
"That's why this is personal to me. It's time to right the scales of justice here. To sign up and register to vote next year so that each individual's voice can be heard.
"My brother is now at home in Dublin living in peace and love with his husband of some years, Steven. They are about the healthiest and happiest couple I know."
Colin, 38, knew his older sibling was gay when he was at school and he admits he is very proud of the way Eamon faced up to homophobic bullies, even when they beat him for being attracted to men.
The 'Total Recall' star said: "I think I found out my brother wasn't grovelling in heterosexual mud like most boys our age when I was around 12. I remember feeling surprised. Intrigued. I was curious because it was different from anything I'd known or heard of and yet it didn't seem unnatural to me. I just knew my brother liked men and, I repeat, it didn't seem unnatural to me.
"My brother Eamon didn't choose to be gay. Yes, he chose to wear eyeliner to school and that probably wasn't the most pragmatic response to the daily torture he experienced at the hands of school bullies. But he was always proud of who he was. Proud and defiant and, of course, provocative. Even when others were casting him out with fists and ridicule and the laughter of pure loathsome derision, he maintained an integrity and dignity that flew in the face of the cruelty that befell him."
There will be a referendum on whether to make gay marriage legal in Ireland in the first half of 2015. It comes five years after same-sex couples were given the right to enter into civil partnerships with their partners.

Bruce Jenner is lucky to be alive after crashing into a ditch.
The 65-year-old star and his son Burt ended up in the dirt after smashing their motor during the brutal Baja 1000 off-road race in the Mexican desert on Thursday (13.11.14), and while the pair escaped with cuts and bruises, Burt was seen wearing a catheter afterwards.
Burt took to Instagram to post a picture of the pair enjoying a well-deserved post-race drink and he added the caption: "Well I don't want to say the race didn't go as planned, because it did... we had a blast, learned a ton about Baja, made a bunch of new friends who I will remember for life, didn't bend the truck (even though we went off twice) and we came home safe..."
The 36 year old - Bruce's oldest child with first wife Chrystie Crownover - also took to the social networking site to thank the crew members who helped fix their $1 million ride following their crash in the five-day event.
He wrote: "In this picture is the group of people who helped us out in the middle of the desert when we broke the truck and offered us pizza and beer and radios... at this point after hours in the desert dad and I were starving, thirsty, and needed a radio to signal our race was over... they pretty much solved all or problems and made life good again. (sic)"
According to TMZ, The father-and-son pairing had to wait a few hours to get back on the road after their smash, which occurred around the 170-mile mark, but they eventually had to pull out of the race because they lost too much time due to the crash.
Several racers and spectators have previously been killed at the annual event, which costs at least $125,000 to enter, with trucks costing around $500,000.

Jude Law is to portray the villain in 'Knights of the Round Table'. The 41-year-old actor will team up with his 'Sherlock Holmes' director Guy Ritchie for the first movie in his planned King Arthur franchise, though specific details of his menacing ro...

Dame Judi Dench wasn't "best pleased" when her James Bond character was killed off.
The 79-year-old actress portrayed MI6 boss M in seven movies in the franchise from 1995 and was disappointed when she was told her character was going to die in the most recent outing, 2012's 'Skyfall'.
While discussing her achievements over the past decade in an article for You magazine, she said: "So much has happened to me in the past 10 years.
"I have played M three more times and was not best pleased when they killed me off in 'Skyfall'."
However, the star - who has won 10 BAFTAs, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award during her five-decade career - is looking forward to what the future has in store for her.
She said: "I await the next offers on stage and screen with interest."
Judi feels she has been able to keep her options open when it comes to new parts as she has avoided being typecast in certain roles.
She said: "All my life I have tried to avoid being typecast or pigeonholed, and when ever anyone says, Oh, you shouldn't play that part,' it only makes me more determined to try."