Carrie Fisher’s tragic passing last year left Star Wars fans around the world heartbroken, and ever since, one of the biggest questions has been how will Lucasfilm handle the actress’ untimely death moving forward? We know that she’s set to feature in The Last Jedi, and holds a fairly large role in it, from what we hear, but what comes after that?
With the decision being made not to digitally recreate her for Episode IX, we shouldn’t expect to see Princess Leia in Abrams’ trilogy closer, but will the studio still find some way to acknowledge her passing and honor her? Well, if a new report is to be believed, then yes, they definitely will.
According to ComicBook.com, The Last Jedi includes a touching dedication to the actress, as once the credits finish up, a message is displayed on screen that reads: “For our special princess – Carrie Fisher.” Simple and to the point, it’s sure to be a bittersweet moment for the franchise’s impassioned fanbase, who are still mourning the tragic loss of the actress. Her untimely passing will only amplify Leia’s final moments in the Star Wars series, and The Last Jedi‘s cast have assured viewers that she delivers a “wonderful” performance in the upcoming sequel – something we can’t wait to see for ourselves next week.
As one of the breakout stars of Lucasfilm’s original trilogy all those years ago, Carrie Fisher’s absence will no doubt leave a big hole in the hearts of fans and in the franchise overall. But if Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be remembered as her last hurrah, then it appears that she’ll bow out of that galaxy far, far away on a high note, with another terrific performance and a nice tribute dedicated to her at the end of what’s sure to be a great film.
Speaking of which, with only days to go now before Rian Johnson’s sequel debuts, the first reactions have already begun to surface and they’re nothing short of extraordinary, with many calling it the best Star Wars movie yet and a “beautiful” and “mind-blowing” experience. Furthermore, analysts are predicting a huge $200 million opening weekend in North America.
Such a debut would ensure Lucasfilm’s Star Wars pic holds the record for 2017’s highest bow on home turf, easily surpassing Beauty and the Beast ($174 million). Whether that’ll indeed be the case remains to be seen, of course, but what we can tell you with absolute certainty is that The Last Jedi has been penciled in for release on December 15th and this is merely the start of Johnson’s journey in that galaxy far, far away, as we know he’ll spearhead an entirely new trilogy sometime after the launch of Episode IX in 2019, and it’ll be teeming with new locations and original characters.