Following the tragic passing of Carrie Fisher in December, there has been some speculation as to what effect this may have on the remaining two instalments of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy.
Fisher had already completed production on Star Wars: The Last Jedi prior to her death, and now Disney’s Bob Iger has confirmed that no changes will be made to the eighth instalment of the main saga as a result of her passing.
“She appears throughout VIII. And what I can say about that is, we’re not changing VIII to deal with her passing. So her performance, which we’re really pleased with, remains as it was in VIII.”
Iger also categorically ruled out the use of CGI for Star Wars: Episode IX, adding that: “In Rogue One we created digitally a few characters. One had been an actor who actually passed away and was in an earlier Star Wars film. We’re not doing that with Carrie.”
So, it looks like the two options for Colin Trevorrow and Star Wars: Episode IX are to write Leia out between the two movies, or recast the role. However, there is also the possibility that Leia is killed off in Episode VIII, and that The Last Jedi was always intended to be Fisher’s final appearance in the saga.
SEE ALSO: J.J. Abrams talks Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and the Han Solo movie
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is set for release on December 15th 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 Jimmy Vee (Pan) as R2-D2, Benicio Del Toro (Guardians of the Galaxy), Laura Dern (Jurassic Park) and Kelly Marie Tran (Ladies Like Us).
Originally published March 24, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
