How do you solve a problem like General Leia Organa? That’s something J.J. Abrams has been having to work out as the director of Star Wars: Episode IX – and now we know his answer. While Carrie Fisher passed away suddenly in December 2016, her iconic role in the sci-fi saga was left open-ended in Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi. But instead of writing Leia out off-screen, Abrams will conclude the iconic character’s story using previously unseen footage originally shot for The Force Awakens.
“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” Abrams said in a statement. “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.”
Leia isn’t the only iconic character confirmed to return: as previously reported, Billy Dee Williams will be back as Lando Calrissian, and Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker is also returning. While Luke – Last Jedi spoiler warning – appeared to ‘die’ in Johnson’s film, disappearing and becoming part of the Force, fans have long suspected that he could return in a Force Ghost-like capacity, similar to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original trilogy.
New additions to the cast for Episode IX include Richard E. Grant, Naomi Ackie and Keri Russell. The trilogy’s established cast – Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd – will also return.
The casting news comes as Episode IX prepares to shoot from 1 August at London’s Pinewood Studios. It’s set for release in December 2019.
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