Star Wars: Episode IX Cast Includes Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill

The full primary cast of Star Wars: Episode IX has been announced and will include Mark Hamill as well as the late Carrie Fisher. Disney and Lucasfilm announced the cast on Friday for the J.J. Abrams-directed film.

Fisher will appear in the film as Leia Organa, despite having passed away in December of 2016. The film will use previously-unreleased footage that was shot for Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. 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.”

Hamill’s inclusion among the cast is also noteworthy, as Luke Skywalker died in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The announcement didn’t reveal how Hamill will appear of course, but there’s always the opportunity of his appearing as a Force ghost or in a flashback.

ALso returning for the film are Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Billy Dee Williams will return to reprise his role as Lando Calrissian, while Anthony Daniels will return as C-3PO. New cast members include Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell, and Richard E. Grant. John Williams, who has scored every chapter in the Star Wars saga, will be back to compose the score of the film.

The film is scheduled to release on December 2019.