Although Carrie Fisher had already finished filming her scenes for Star Wars: Episode VIII, it is suggested that she was also set to reprise her role as Princess Leia in Episode IX.
This information comes from The Insurance Insider, which states that Disney took out contract protection priced at a whopping $50 million in the event that, for whatever reason, Carrie Fisher could not complete her contractual obligations for the new trilogy.
Carrie Fisher tragically died of a heart attack on December 27th. Disney has not yet commented on how they will proceed with the Princess Leia character when Episode IX goes into production.
A Disney spokesperson was unable to be reached for comment on the situation regarding the potential payout to the studio. Neither has anyone else involved with the insurance claim.
Star Wars: Episode VIII is set for release on December 15th 2017 and sees returning cast members Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), Mike Quinn (Nien Nunb), Simon Pegg (Unkar Plutt), and Warwick Davis joined by new additions Benicio Del Toro (Guardians of the Galaxy), Laura Dern (Jurassic Park), Kelly Marie Tran (Ladies Like Us) and Jimmy Vee (Pan) as R2-D2.
