J.J. Abrams Discusses Carrie Fisher’s Role In THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, More

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We lost the great Carrie Fisher 877 days ago, and there has been a hole in my heart ever since. I didn’t know her personally, but she had been the Princess I had a crush on my entire life. When Disney brought Star Wars back, the plan was to have VII be Harrison Ford’s movie, VIII be Mark Hamill’s movie, and IX be Fisher’s movie. Two out of the three of those happened, but due to Fisher’s death before they filmed Episode IX, no one knew how it was going to be approached.

Lucasfilm promised to not recast her, and promised to not use CGI. Most people thought that meant she would be omitted from the film. But when filming commenced, director J.J. Abrams announced that Carrie Fisher will reprise her role as General Leia Organa via archive footage shot during The Force Awakens. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Abrams talks about including Fisher in the final film of the Skywalker saga.

“It’s hard to even talk about it without sounding like I’m being some kind of cosmic spiritual goofball,” Abrams says, “but it felt like we suddenly had found the impossible answer to the impossible question.” He started to write scenes around the old footage, fitting Leia’s dialogue into new contexts. He re-created the lighting to match the way Fisher had been lit. Bit by bit, she found her place in the new movie. “It was a bizarre kind of left side/right side of the brain sort of Venn diagram thing, of figuring out how to create the puzzle based on the pieces we had.”

Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd has been in the last two Skywalker Saga movies as Lieutenant Connix. There was usable footage of the two of them together, but Abrams shied away from that, thinking it might be too painful for Lourd. But Lourd insisted on being in scenes with her late mother.

“And so, there are moments where they’re talking; there are moments where they’re touching,” Abrams says. “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.”

If anybody can pull a seamless addition of a deceased person in a movie without anyone being able to tell just from the film alone, it’s Abrams and the deep pockets of Lucasfilm. Once everyone figured out it was workable, I don’t think they would spare any expense. She is royalty, after all.

I am not going to be emotionally stable enough to handle seeing her on screen again. The tears will be instantaneous. But Abrams strength as filmmaker is moments. I have no doubt that he will create sweet and memorable moments for Fisher, so she gets one last send off.

I believe we are in for a treat come December, then again, I feel we are in for a treat any time we get new Star Wars. This one will be extra special though, since it wraps up 42 years of storytelling.

Star Wars: ~~Endgame~~ The Rise Of Skywalker hits theaters December 20.

Source: Vanity Fair

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Matt Vernier

Lifelong geek who is passionate about movies. I review things on my blog: https://www.GeekyRegards.com. Find me on Twitter! @MattV525 - Inquiries: Mavern519@gmail.com

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