Carrie Fisher will be making a return to Star Wars.
JJ Abrams will be using unused footage of the late actor from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Lucasfilm has unveiled its case for Star Wars: Episode IX, and the late star will appear in the last part of the current trilogy.
Carrie, who played Princess Lei/ General Organa for decades, is among the actors who will be reprising their roles.
Speaking of the star who passed away in December 2016 aged 60, Director JJ Abrams said: We desperately loved Carrie Fisher.
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], his statement continued. We have found a way to honor Carries legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Carrie passed after completing her work on last years Star Wars: The Last Jedi in April 2017.
Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy had previously suggested that Carrie would not appear in Episode IX.
But Abrams took over as director of IX in late last year after the exit of Colin Trevorrow, and wrote a newer script with Chris Terrio.
Lucasfilm also announced returning cast members for the movie will include Carries daughter Billie Lourd, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Kelly Marie Tran, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyongo, Domhnall Gleeson, Joonas Suotam.
New stars joining the cast include Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant.
The news comes after Boyega revealed earlier this month that Star Wars: Episode IX is being released on 19 December 2019.
The British actor made the announcement via a countdown on his Instagram, that simply read: 532 days, 11 hours, 56 minutes, 58 seconds until IX.
Episode IXs name is still yet to be revealed and will be the follow-up to 2017s The Last Jedi.
So far, we know little about what to expect from the movie (no spoilers, movie buffs), but there are certainly some surprises in store.
However, the spin-off specials of the series, which includes this years Solo: A Star Wars Story, have been put on hold following the lack of success from the space mavericks origin.
Advertisement
Advertisement
More: Star Wars
The recent release of Solo: A Star Wars Story became the franchises first damp squib at the box office, taking $84.4 million (£63m) on opening weekend and $192.8 million (£146m) over a month.
While that sounds impressive, it was noticeably less than Rogue Ones opening of $155 million (£117) and $424 million domestic (£322m) by its fourth week.
MORE: Simon Pegg ashamed of his Star Wars comments after Jar Jar Binks star was tormented by trolls
Advertisement
Advertisement
