Star Wars: Episode IX Director Colin Trevorrow on Honoring Carrie Fisher
Star Wars: Episode IX writer/director Colin Trevorrow was just as shocked and saddened by the loss of Carrie Fisher late last year as the rest of us. What differentiates him from us, of course, is that he has been preparing for the final film in the new trilogy, one in which Fisher was to play a big part. The late, great icon had already finished filming her scenes for Rian Johnson's upcoming The Last Jedi, but Episode IX was far from principal photography. In fact, Episode IX was going to be more of a spotlight for Fishier's General Leia Organa, according to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. Kennedy told Vanity Fair that Fisher was adamant about giving Leia more of a central role in Episode IX:
“The minute she finished, she grabbed me and said, ‘I’d better be at the forefront of IX!’ Because Harrison was front and center on VII, and Mark is front and center on VIII. She thought IX would be her movie. And it would have been.”
For the first time since her death, Trevorrow spoke about the loss to Cinemablend, and how he plans on honoring her in the film:
“She was a major character, that's not a secret. She really was. And it was extremely sad for all of us, mostly just because she was so loved by the Star Wars family and everyone that worked with her. I feel like our options are limited mostly by ourselves, in that there is only certain things that we are willing to do. But I can guarantee it will be handled with love and respect, and all of the soul that Carrie Fisher deserves.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger and Kennedy have already ruled out using any CGI to give Fisher a role in Episode IX as was used for Peter Cushing's Grand Moff in Rogue One. What's undeniable is that the script for Episode IX has had to undergo a major re-write, one that will no doubt pay tribute to Star War's very own wonder woman.
Episode IX is due in theaters on May 24, 2019.
Featured image: Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Courtesy Lucasfilm/Walt Disney
