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I think it's pretty safe to assume that Carrie Fisher had a pretty major role planned for her in the remaining two movies.

Is there any official word on how her death impacts the upcoming movies? I read that they already had their footage for the next one shot, but if it was shot with plans for her being in the last one, they will need to change something.

Will they write her out with a tragic death using current footage, or CGI her like they did for the Tarkin/originally-Peter-Cushing character? Or some combination?

Carrie Fisher finished shooting Star Wars:Episode VIII before her death

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    I suspect this is too speculative for an answer.
    – Paulie_D
    Feb 20, 2017 at 14:59
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    @Paulie_D -I'm asking for actual verifiable information about how the movie producers are dealing with this. I'm not asking for any speculation. I'm not sure why you'd think that a movie already shot and a plotline for another already in the works, and a death that already happened would require speculation about how they all come together. Feb 20, 2017 at 15:01

2 Answers 2

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You are correct that Episode VIII, The Last Jedi had wrapped up filming prior to Fisher's death.

The offical Star Wars site released the following blurb on July 22, 2016:

Director Rian Johnson announced today on the official Star Wars Facebook and Twitter channels that Star Wars: Episode VIII has wrapped shooting. “Final slate of the final shot,” Johnson wrote of an accompanying short video. “VIII is officially wrapped. Thanks to the best cast and crew in the galaxy, and thanks to the fans for all the love and support through the whole process. Cannot wait to put it together and share it with you all!”

They also confirmed on January 13, 2017 that they have no plans to use CGI to recreate Fisher as General Organa:

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.

So we know she (meaning Fisher) will not appear in Episode IX, but we do not know at this time how they will handle this. Even though her passing was tragic to many in the community, I doubt they will give away huge plot spoilers because of it. Star Wars been known for its dramatic reveals in the OT (Vader) and now the ST (Han). It is possible that role will be recast and General Organa will remain in the story in the same way that Michael Gambon replaced Richard Harris as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films.

J.J. Abrams has released a statement along with the rest of casting of Episode IX concerning Fisher/Leia.

The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “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.”

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    What do OT and ST stand for in this answer?
    – TylerH
    Feb 20, 2017 at 18:43
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    Original Trilogy and Sequel Trilogy I'm guessing.
    – pfinferno
    Feb 20, 2017 at 18:47
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    Their comment does not preclude using already shot footage.
    – zeta-band
    Feb 20, 2017 at 21:56
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    @zeta-band Or even using a different actor. (Although I'm not sure fans would let them try that.)
    – Bob
    Feb 22, 2017 at 16:15
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    @Bob Do the fans really get any control over that?
    – Catija
    Feb 22, 2017 at 22:27
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As the previous answer well states, it appears to be inconsequential to The Last Jedi.

However, it will greatly impact Episode IX

What’s perhaps all the more maddening is the reveal that Episode IX would have put Fisher’s Leia front and center, in the same way that Harrison Ford‘s Han Solo was at the crux of The Force Awakens, and Mark Hamill‘s Luke is at the heart of The Last Jedi. Kathleen Kennedy confirms, “The minute she finished, she grabbed me and said, ‘I’d better be at the forefront of IX!’ […] She thought IX would be her movie. And it would have been.” http://collider.com/star-wars-episode-9-carrie-fisher-role/#rian-johnso

As the world still grapples with the fact that Carrie Fisher is gone, the galaxy far, far away is coming to terms with the loss of its own princess general.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy tells EW the story team and filmmakers have come up with a plan for how to handle Fisher’s absence in 2019’s planned Star Wars: Episode IX.

The actress won’t be recreated digitally, but unfortunately, that also means Leia Organa won’t be a part of the story.

“Obviously, with Carrie having passed away, it shook everybody,” Kennedy says. As they tried to figure out what this meant for Leia’s continuing story, the only option was to leave their original ideas behind. “We pretty much started over,” Kennedy adds. http://ew.com/movies/2017/04/14/kathleen-kennedy-episode-ix-carrie-fisher-death/

In addition it should be noted that Collin Trevorrow is no longer directing/writing episode IX. Some reports suggest that he was slow on drafts, but given Carrie Fisher's death, one might speculate the rewrights were too taxing being a relatively newer film-maker. JJ Abrams has now taken back the reins on both counts. Also early on it was stated that Carrie Fisher would not be CGI-ed into the films, but this was also when they stated would put things on pause for a while (as far as the public is concerned)--recently Billie Lourd did become the benificary of Carrie Fisher's estate and there might be room to argue that Disney/Lucasfilm was waiting for that and that Carrie's presense in the film could change in some way, considering the following tadbit from Trevorrow before he was fired:

"She was a major character, that's not a secret," Trevorrow, who didn't get the chance to meet Fisher before her death, said in a recent interview with Cinemablend while promoting his upcoming film The Book of Henry. "It was extremely sad for all of us, mostly just because she was so loved by the Star Wars family and everyone that worked with her. I feel like our options are limited mostly by ourselves, in that there [are] only certain things that we are willing to do. But I can guarantee it will be handled with love and respect, and all the soul that Carrie Fisher deserves." 

Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy revealed in a recent interview with Vanity Fair that the company has no plans to recreate Leia digitally for the film, and will instead find a way to honor the character without Fisher present. Still, she said, Fisher's loss was deeply felt. "Because Harrison [Ford] was front and center on VII, and Mark is front and center on VIII, [Fisher] thought IX would be her movie," Kennedy said. "And it would have been."

Read More: http://www.looper.com/68990/trevorrow-star-wars-9-carrie-fisher/?utm_campaign=clip


UPDATE: The Force Awakens unused footage will now be used in Episode IX and Carrie Fisher (Leia) will be included in the film:

“As we, her family, as well as her extended family of fans around the world so believe, Carrie’s ‘Princess Leia is forever entrenched in the franchise and her indelible presence is fundamental to the film,” Todd Fisher said. “J.J. Abrams understood Carrie’s iconic role, and he has masterfully re-crafted this final entry to include this unused and very last footage of Carrie ever taken, without resorting to CGI or animatronics. Our family and her fans will look forward with great anticipation for this one! Her force will forever be with us!”

Cast Press Release for Episode IX also includes Carrie Fisher's name:

Star Wars: Episode IX will begin filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1, 2018. J.J. Abrams returns to direct the final installment of the Skywalker saga. Abrams co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio.

Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant, and Keri Russell, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.

The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “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.”

Composer John Williams, who has scored every chapter in the Star Wars saga since 1977’s A New Hope, will return to a galaxy far, far away with Episode IX.

Star Wars: Episode IX will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Michelle Rejwan, and executive produced by Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin. The crew includes Dan Mindel (Director of Photography), Rick Carter and Kevin Jenkins (Co-Production Designers), Michael Kaplan (Costume Designer), Neal Scanlan (Creature and Droid FX), Maryann Brandon and Stefan Grube (Editors), Roger Guyett (VFX Supervisor), Tommy Gormley (1st AD), and Victoria Mahoney (2nd Unit Director).

Release is scheduled for December 2019.

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