Star Wars: Episode IX 'Started Over' After Carrie Fisher's Passing 

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Lucasfilm head honcho Kathleen Kennedy has told Entertainment Weekly that development had to start over again on Episode XI following the sad passing of Princess Leia herself Carrie Fisher.  

While it emerged in the days following her death at the age of 60 that all her scenes for Star Wars: The Last Jedi had been filmed, the company was less assured when it came to the follow up, with rumours both confirmed and denying that the late actress was to feature using the same CGI recreation technology that brought Peter Cushing back to life in Rogue One - however that was quickly dismissed.

It eventually emerged that Leia wouldn’t be in Episode IX at all, which it now appears was the result of a bigger shift behind the scenes at Lucasfilm. 

Speaking to EW (via Screen Rant) around the time of Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy discussed the impact Fisher’s death had on the cast and crew and revealed it led to a complete rejigging of Colin Trevorrow’s Episode IX. 

“Obviously, with Carrie having passed away, it shook everybody. We pretty much started over.”

Much like The Last Jedi, plot details for Episode IX have been kept tightly wrapped, but these seems like a major change following talks of an increased role for Leia as the trilogy progress.

What isn’t clear is just how much of an endgame was in place when The Force Awakens began and now, how much has that changed since her passing. 

Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released Dec 15, 2017 with Star Wars: Episode IX set to follow on May 24, 2019. 

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