Star Wars: 9 questions we have for Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: Episode IX. Photo credit: Lucasfilm

Question 6: How will Carrie Fisher be used?

It breaks our hearts all over again every time we see Carrie Fisher on screen. Our princess and general died in 2016 and it was heartbreaking for her family, friends and devoted fans.

Yet, she still appeared in The Last Jedi since she filmed that before her death. But the question has become, how will she appear in The Rise of Skywalker.

J.J. Abrams said they had unused footage and scenes from when they filmed The Force Awakens. It wasn’t throw away footage, but good stuff that could be used in Episode IX. 

There was not going to be a digital stand-in for Fisher either. Abrams was certain about that.

And Fisher’s daughter Billie Lourd approved as well and will appear in Episode IX as Lieutenant Connix. According to Abrams in Vanity Fair, the two even share scenes together.

Abrams told Vanity Fair:

"“There are moments in this movie where Carrie is there, and I really do feel there is an element of the uncanny, spiritual, you know, classic Carrie, that it would have happened this way, because somehow it worked. And I never thought it would.”"

There is some digital work at play to get the pieces to fit perfectly, but no one is playing Leia other than Carrie Fisher.