Shortly after the unfortunate passing of beloved Carrie Fisher, it was reported that she would be having a larger role as Leia in director Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII as she had finished shooting her required scenes for the film. Thoughts then turned to how Lucasfilm would address her character in 2019’s Colin Trevorrow-helmed Episode IX, prompting members at Lucasfilm to openly dispel the rumor that they would be looking to digitally recreate Fisher’s performance as Leia in future films.
It has now been revealed via the NY Daily News that Fisher’s brother Todd and her daughter Billie Lourd have given Lucasfilm permission to include Fisher in Episode IX via the use of previously-shot footage, presumably unused footage taken from the production of The Last Jedi.
After months of speculation about Carrie’s future in the sci-fi saga, Todd has revealed that Disney bosses want to bring Princess Leia back for Episode 9. And he said he and Carrie’s daughter, Billie Lourd, have granted the studio rights to use recent footage for the finale. It is understood that CGI will not be used to recreate Leia.
“Both of us were like, ‘Yes, how do you take her out of it?’ And the answer is you don’t,” said Fisher, as he attended the opening night gala of the TCM Film Festival in Los Angeles, celebrating “In the Heat of the Night.”
“She’s as much a part of it as anything and I think her presence now is even more powerful than it was, like Obi Wan — when the saber cuts him down he becomes more powerful. I feel like that’s what’s happened with Carrie. I think the legacy should continue.”
