Yes, it is really happening. The Force is strong with Star Wars.
What’s more, Episode IX will be a swan song for Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and the Skywalker saga.
According to reports, Hamill is going to reprise his role as Luke Skywalker. The film will also include footage of the late Fisher as General Leia Organa. She passed in 2016.
In an interview, director J.J. Abrams says they had no plans to create a digital Leia or recast the role.
“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” he says. “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 [Lourd], 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.”
While Luke did die in The Last Jedi, there is a strong possibility he could become a Force ghost. In doing so, Mark Hamill can return to the franchise in the way Alec Guinness reprised his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi. It is still too early to say how the filmmakers will deal with Leia’s final fate.
Episode IX also stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, Lupita N’yongo, Billie Lourd, and Joonas Suotamo. Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell and Richard E. Grant will join the film as new characters. Star Wars veterans Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams will reprise their roles as C3PO and Lando Calrissian, respectively.
In addition, composer John Williams will return to compose the film’s score. This will mark his ninth time as composer in the Star Wars franchise.
Episode IX will be in theatres on December 19th, 2019.
