Star Wars: What Is Leia's Role In Episode 9?
No one's ever really gone.
The cast for Star Wars Episode IX has been revealed, and among the many expected returning faces (including Mark Hamill) is one that people didn't see coming: Carrie Fisher.
Fisher sadly passed away back at the end of 2016, and although the posthumously released The Last Jedi kept her role intact and set up an even bigger arc for the character in Episode IX, Lucasfilm had went on record saying Leia wouldn't be brought back for the movie.
That has seemingly contributed to some of the problems getting the script right (Colin Trevorrow had to redraft, then Jack Thorne was brought in to help, and eventually J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio came onboard), and now the actress will appear again thanks to some unused footage from The Force Awakens.
It's an interesting, thought-provoking move, and while there's a good argument that Fisher should've been allowed to rest in peace, the fact her family have consented suggests Abrams and co have come up with a fitting way to say goodbye to the character and are 100% sure it's the right move. Either way, we now know Leia is going to be in Episode IX, the question is what she'll be doing.