Carrie Fisher’s brother, Todd Fisher, has given his approval for the late actor’s appearance in Star Wars: Episode IX. The cast for the final instalment of the new trilogy was announced yesterday via the franchise’s official website.
The news announced Leia Organa will be played by Carrie through previously unreleased footage shot from The Force Awakens.
In a statement to Variety Todd said he “couldn’t be more personally thrilled and happy that our Carrie will reprise her role as Princess Leia in the new and final ‘Star Wars Episode IX.’
As we, her family, as well as her extended family of fans around the world so believe, Carrie’s ‘Princess Leia’ is forever entrenched in the franchise and her indelible presence is fundamental to the film. J.J. Abrams understood Carrie’s iconic role, and he has masterfully re-crafted this final entry to include this unused and very last footage of Carrie ever taken, without resorting to CGI or animatronics. Our family and her fans will look forward with great anticipation for this one!”
On behalf of the franchise Abrams said:
“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher. Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”
Carrie died at the age of 60 in December 2016 after completing production on The Force Awakens.
Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Issac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd are all set to reprise their roles. Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell are the newcomers while living legends and Star Wars alumni Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams will return as their iconic characters.
Filming begins August 1, 2018.
Star Wars: Episode IX will fly into cinemas December 2019.
That’s approximately 508 days of waiting according to howmanydaysuntilstarwars.com.
