Carrie Fisher. What a posthumous achievement. The excitement for the next journey into a galaxy far, far away is starting to build (go home all you Last Jedi haters) as Disney and Lucasfilm have announced the cast for Star Wars: Episode IX.
Most notably amongst the announcements if the fact that Carrie Fisher, who passed away back in December of 2016 at the age of 60, will once again be featured as Leia Organa. Director J.J. Abrams plans to use unreleased footage of Fisher that was shot during The Force Awakens.
“Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us,” Abrams said via Variety. “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."
The rest of the cast mostly includes those who either appeared in Force Awakens/Last Jedi, or those who have been rumored to appear — Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian and Keri Russell in an unknown role.
Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant will also be appearing in unknown roles.
And, of course, we’ll see the return of Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver and everyone else we’ve come to know in this franchise.
Maybe it’s not the most surprising news in the whole world, but it’s cool to see that Episode IX is making some progress. None of us were all that sure how they were going to handle the whole Carrie Fisher situation after her character surprisingly made it through The Last Jedi, but I have faith in Abrams if he says the unseen footage will be able to tie into Episode IX in a way that makes sense.
Star Wars: Episode IX will hit theaters in December of 2019.
What do you think of the news? Does the Carrie Fisher bit surprise you? Let us know in the comments below!