With news that Carrie Fisher is officially part of the Star Wars: Episode IX cast, her close friend and the Luke Skywalker to her Princess Leia, Mark Hamill, has tweeted a warm tribute in memory of the late actress.
It’s long been known Lucasfilm wouldn’t be using CGI to recreate Leia, and director J.J. Abrams revealed he’ll be using footage from The Force Awakens in the upcoming film; a decision Hamill is in full agreement with.
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“It’s bittersweet facing my final chapter without her-She is simply irreplaceable,” he tweeted. “I’m finding solace in the fact that she won’t BE replaced & would love the worldwide outpouring of affection from those who loved her when they heard the news. #CarrieOnForever.”
The social media post was accompanied by pictures of Hamill kissing his friend from different eras in the Star Wars universe.
It's bittersweet facing my final chapter without her-She is simply irreplaceable. I'm finding solace in the fact that she won't BE replaced & would love the worldwide outpouring of affection from those who loved her when they heard the news.#CarrieOnForever pic.twitter.com/7ueMqBxQwa
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) July 29, 2018
Carrie’s brother Todd thanked Abrams for this way of paying respect to her legacy. Abrams had earlier issued a statement on the matter, reading, “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.”
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Abrams concluded, “With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”
Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode IX opens on December 20, 2019, and stars Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian and Keri Russell in a currently unnamed role.