‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Sends Off Carrie Fisher ‘In An Amazing Way,’ John Boyega Says
Carrie Fisher’s untimely death was a blow to fans in this world and in a galaxy far, far away.
It was most of all a blow to the cast and crew ofStar Wars: The Last Jedi, which would inadvertently be Fisher’s last onscreen appearance as Princess, now General, Leia. But though this would be the last we see of Leia,The Last JedicostarJohn Boyegapromises that the film will send off her character properly. WhileStar Wars Episode 9will have to deal with Leia’s absence,The Last Jediwill at least offer a way for us to say goodbye to Fisher.
Fisher had finished filming all her scenes inThe Last Jedi, but the franchise had planned on bringing her character back forEpisode 9. However, because of her death, that would sadly not be the case. Boyega toldABC News(viaThe Hollywood Reporter) that Fisher’s last onscreen appearance as General Leia will be treated with the grace befitting a princess.
“This movie, it sends her off in an amazing, amazing way. And she is still kept alive in this franchise. That’s the beauty of it: She lives forever in a sense.”
Lucasfilm PresidentKathleen Kennedyhas said thatThe Last Jedihadn’t been alteredto address Fisher’s death, and Boyega’s comments appear to hint that Leia will go on to live in theStar Warsuniverse after her last onscreen appearance. TheStar Warscrew have said they won’t use digital manipulation to insert Leia intoEpisode 9, so her absence will likely be explained offscreen.
While Boyega and Fisher didn’t get many — or any — scenes together in 2015’sStar Wars: The Force Awakens, Boyega promised that Finn and Leia will appear together many times inThe Last Jedi.
“We worked together closely on this,” he told ABC News.
Though the cast and crew are quickly moving on to work onStar Wars Episode 9, which will be helmed byJurassic World’sColin Trevorrow,taking over fromThe Last Jedi’sRian Johnson, Boyega said that they will still never get over the shock they felt when they learned of Fisher’s death in December last year.
“It was a strange, strange feeling,” Boyega said. “I felt like everyone in the cast went silent for a bit after that.”
Star Wars: The Last Jedicontinues the story told inThe Force Awakens, which brought theStar Warsfranchise into the modern age with new heroes played byDaisy Ridley, John Boyega,andOscar Isaac.Star Wars: The Last Jedihits theatersDecember 15.
