Star Wars: Episode IX scriptwriters were forced to go back to square one after Carrie Fisher’s untimely death in 2016. But it turns out that some plans to heavily feature Princess Leia might be pulled from the cutting room floor thanks to unused footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
‘General’ Leia Returns
The Princess of the Rebellion turned into the General of the Resistance in the latest Star Wars trilogy, and despite Fisher’s death, Leia lived on after Star Wars: The Last Jedi. J.J. Abrams, who directed “The Force Awakens,” said unused footage of Fisher would be used in the next film and promised to use it in a way to honor both Fisher and Leia’s legacy. That means filmmakers will have to get creative.
ScienceFiction.com
How To Do Leia Justice
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy promised there would be no “digital doubles” like they did for Leia or Peter Cushing’s Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars: Rogue One. But there’s still a chance Fisher could be shown in hologram form as in the first Star Wars movie or, in the event of Leia’s death, she could speak through the force—meaning sound bites from unused footage would be used, but Leia wouldn’t be seen. With that in mind, some of the footage we know wasn’t used could offer clues as to what we’ll see in the next movie.
Daily Express
Unused Footage With Rey Offers Clues
In a teaser for The Force Awakens, Leia was originally the one who received Luke Skywalker’s old lightsaber. It’s possible some dialogue could be repurposed to go along with an exchange between Rey and Leia for a final touching scene between the two—either in person or through the Force. And one undeniable truth is that Leia will likely meet her end one way or the other.
screenrant.com
Leia Going Out With A Bang?
Because Fisher can’t shoot any new scenes, filmmakers will likely have to establish that Leia dies off-screen. One of the deleted tidbits we heard about after The Force Awakens was released was a speech Leia gave to the Resistance in the war room after the destruction of Starkiller Base. It makes sense for her to have one final speech from her to the Resistance before some spectacular heroic move on her part.
That Hashtag Show
Fisher Family Puts Their Trust In Filmmakers
Although they don’t know exactly what’s planned, Fisher’s daughter Billie Lourd and brother Todd have stated they approve of whatever plans Abrams has for bringing back Leia for the end of the new trilogy, adding that the unused footage will continue Fisher’s Star Wars legacy. But perhaps no one said it better than Mark Hamill when he tweeted how no one could replace Carrie Fisher.
Mark Hamill/Twitter
