Disney and Lucasfilm confirmed that Carrie Fisher will appear in the final installment of the Star Wars franchise. The news were announced Friday on the official Star Wars website.
Star Wars: Episode IX will feature Fisher in her iconic role as Leia Organa thanks to previously unreleased footage of the late actress.
“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” director J.J. Abrams said the announcement. “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 [Lourd], 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,” Abrams explained.
Fisher died unexpectedly in December 2016. Soon after that the network addressed rumors that Fisher would be brought back through CGI.
“We don’t normally respond to fan or press speculation, but there is a rumor circulating that we would like to address. We want to assure our fans that Lucasfilm has no plans to digitally recreate Carrie Fisher’s performance as Princess or General Leia Organa. Carrie Fisher was, is, and always will be a part of the Lucasfilm family. She was our princess, our general, and more importantly, our friend. We are still hurting from her loss. We cherish her memory and legacy as Princess Leia, and will always strive to honor everything she gave to Star Wars.”
Star Wars: Episode IX commences filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1and is scheduled for release on December 20, 2019.
