Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirms Carrie Fisher will not be in Star Wars: Episode IX

Contrary to a statement made by Carrie Fisher’s brother, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announced the late actress will not appear in Star Wars: Episode IX.

A week ago, the late Carrie Fisher’s brother, Todd Fisher told New York Daily News that his sister will appear in Star Wars: Episode IX. According to Mr. Fisher, Lucasfilm approached him and his sister’s daughter, Billie Lourd, about using recent footage of the actress for IX. Mr. Fisher didn’t know to what extent that his sister would appear in IX, but he said he had faith in the filmmakers to “do great things.”

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A recent interview by ABC News’s Paula Faris with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, however, contradicts what Fisher said last week. Kennedy told Faris definitely that “Carrie will not be in IX.”

Regarding Todd Fisher’s words, Kennedy said he was “probably confused”:

"Kennedy: “He was probably confused because we finished everything in VIII… we were able to complete shooting in the summer… Unfortunately, Carrie passed away, so by the time we were well underway with Episode IX in our thoughts, we had not written the script yet. But we’ve regrouped, we started over again in January. So, sadly, Carrie will not be in IX.”"

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It sounds like Lucasfilm either used whatever footage they had of Carrie Fisher before her death in The Last Jedi or didn’t plan far enough ahead of time to use any extra footage they shot in IX. If General Leia appears at all in IX, she will have to appear through some clever photography and a double, or else a CGI version of Fisher. If neither of those, however, then Leia’s fate will be addressed in The Last Jedi.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi starring Carrie Fisher premieres on December 15, 2017.