Recently, it was reported that Carrie Fisher’s General Leia Organa would be making an appearance in Star Wars: Episode IX despite her untimely passing in December. Fisher’s brother Todd Fisher claimed that she would be featured in the film in some way.
Unfortunately, that is no longer the case according to LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy. While speaking with ABC News, Kennedy denied that claim:
He was probably confused, because we finished everything in VIII and Carrie is absolutely phenomenal in the movie. We’re so happy that we were able to complete shooting in the summer. Unfortunately, Carrie passed away so by the time we were well underway with Episode IX, in our thoughts we had not written a script yet. But we regrouped, we started over again in January. So sadly, Carrie will not be in IX.
Although we are unlikely to see General Leia Organa in Colin Trevorrow’s Episode IX, Kennedy encourages fans that we will be seeing a lot of Fisher in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Shortly after Fisher’s passing, Lucasfilm officially announced that there are no plans to digitally recreate Fisher’s likeness as General Leia Organa in any upcoming films.
Overall, this decision is commendable. If Trevorrow and Kennedy have no footage that can be re-purposed for Episode IX, then there is no need to implement Fisher within the film. The Last Jedi will undoubtedly honor her legacy, and her impact will always be felt within future projects within the iconic galaxy far, far away.
You can see a snippet of Kennedy’s interview down below.
EXCLUSIVE: Lucasfilm President Kathy Kennedy says Carrie Fisher will NOT be in @StarWars Episode 9 as General Leia. #SWCO #TheLastJedi pic.twitter.com/gxH80QteYb
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 14, 2017
Directed by Rian Johnson and starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Benicio del Toro, Laura Dern and Kelly Marie Tran, Star Wars: The Last Jedi arrives in our galaxy on December 15, 2017.
Source: GMA via Twitter