Star Wars: Episode IX to include Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill
Star Wars: Episode IX will include previously unreleased footage of Carrie Fisher that was shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Lucasfilm announced.
Mark Hamill will reprise his role as Luke Skywalker for the film, as will Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and Billy Dee Williams, as Lando Calrissian.
“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” said J.J. Abrams, who is directing and co-wrote the movie with Chris Terrio. “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.”
Star Wars: Episode IX will begin filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1, 2018.
The rest of the cast was announced and will include returning cast members Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd (Carrie Fisher’s daughter).
Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell.
Composer John Williams, who has scored every chapter in the Star Wars saga since 1977’s A New Hope, will return to score this film. Williams has previously said this will be the last Star Wars film he will score.
The movie is scheduled for release December 19, 2019.
