Carrie Fisher officially won't be in 'Star Wars: Episode IX'

May the force be with you, Carrie Fisher.
 By 
Angie Han
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

May the force be with you, princess.

Although the late Carrie Fisher will return as General Leia Organa in this winter's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, she will not appear in 2019's Episode IX, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed Friday.

Fisher completed shooting for The Last Jedi before her death in December, but until now it's been unclear whether her character would appear in Episode IX.

Last week, her brother Todd Fisher revealed to press that his family had granted Disney and Lucasfilm the rights to use recent footage of the late actress to complete her role, leading many to assume that Leia would indeed be back for the next installment.

However, Kennedy has now clarified to Good Morning America that that's not the case.

By the time Fisher passed away, Kennedy explains, "we were well underway with Episode IX in our thoughts," but the script had yet to be written. After Fisher's death, Kennedy says, "We regrouped. We started over in January."

And just in case there's any lingering confusion, Kennedy says it right out: "Sadly, Carrie will not be in IX."

It's been tough to let go of Fisher and it'll be tough to say good bye to Leia. But we will get one last chance to see her this winter in The Last Jedi. Kennedy talked up Fisher's work in the movie as "phenomenal."

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is out December 15. Episode IX, which will be directed by Colin Trevorrow, is expected to open in 2019.

Topics Star Wars

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Angie Han

Angie Han is the Deputy Entertainment Editor at Mashable. Previously, she was the managing editor of Slashfilm.com. She writes about all things pop culture, but mostly movies, which is too bad since she has terrible taste in movies.

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