JJ Abrams And Other Crew Members Discuss Bringing Back Leia For 'The Rise Of Skywalker'

By: Dominic Jones

One of the most discussed aspects of the film going into Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was how the film handled the character of Leia Organa, since her actress, Carrie Fisher, died almost three years before the film's release.  Now that the film has been in theaters for a few weeks, and audiences have been able to see how the filmmakers created the character's role using footage shot for The Force Awakens, some of the key crew members for The Rise of Skywalker took part in a group interview with Vanity Fair's Anthony Breznican about how they created Leia's final performance.

Read more...

Oscar Isaac Discusses Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher & Finishing 'Episode IX'

By: Benjamin Hart

Last month director and co-writer J.J. Abrams announced that filming for Star Wars: Episode IX had ended, and with it came many emotions. Episode IX marks the end of the Sequel Trilogy(and the end of the Skywalker saga apparently) and none were perhaps more emotional about the ceasing of filming than those who worked on all three films. Among the cast members who have completed their final(?) Star Wars film is Oscar Isaac, who played daring pilot Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and now Episode IX.

Read more...

Mark Hamill Reflects on 'The Last Jedi', Talks About Carrie Fisher Being In 'Episode IX'

By: Dominic Jones

Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill has been out promoting his appearance on the upcoming season of the History Channel series Knightfall, and naturally (just as he has been for the past 42 years) he was asked about Star Wars.  In a pair of interviews, one with the Radio Times and another with Den of Geek, Hamill spoke about Carrie Fisher appearing in Star Wars Episode IX (released three years after her tragic death in 2016) as well as his experience with The Last Jedi (and the reaction to the film).

Read more...

Todd Fisher Discusses Carrie Fisher & Leia In 'Episode IX'

By: Benjamin Hart

We are now less than a year away from the release of Star Wars: Episode IX, which is already being billed as the "final" installment in the Skywalker saga. While we don't know much else about the sequel so far, we do, however, know that the late Carrie Fisher will have a part to play in it.

Two years ago, on December 27th, 2016, Fisher passed away at the age of 60. At the time, the legendary actress had completed filming her scenes for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which premiered a year later in December of 2017. For a while it was believed The Last Jedi would be Carrie's final outing as General Organa. However, the official casting announcement confirmed director and co-writer J.J. Abrams would be utilizing unused footage from Episodes VII and VIII to bring Carrie back one last time as Leia.

Read more...

Oscar Isaac Says 'Episode IX' Deals With Leia "In A Really Beautiful Way"

By: Dominic Jones

Following Carrie Fishers tragic passing in late 2016, Star Wars fans were pleased to learn that the character of General Leia, which she made famous across five films, would still manage to make an appearance in the final installment in the sequel trilogy thanks to unused footage shot for the prior two films.  With filming underway on Star Wars Episode IX, the story, and Leia's role in it, has largely been kept under wraps.  This week, Poe Dameron actor, Oscar Isaac spoke with The Daily Beast and reassured fans that the character and the situation was being handled appropriately.

Read more...

Oscar Isaac Talks 'The Last Jedi' Reaction, Carrie Fisher In 'Episode IX' & More

By: Benjamin Hart

Oscar Isaac is one of the busiest actors in Hollywood today, and on top portraying Poe Dameron in Star Wars Episode IX as we speak, he's also been out promoting some of his other films that are coming soon.

Read more...

JJ Abrams Tweets Picture From Day One Of Shooting On 'Episode IX'

By: Dominic Jones

Principle photography of Star Wars Episode IX, the final installment of the sequel trilogy, began today at Pinewood Studios in London.  To celebrate this, director JJ Abrams joined Twitter and tweeted out a picture of the camera from the set of the upcoming film.  Abrams expressed his gratitude to The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson and Star Wars creator George Lucas for laying the groundwork for his upcoming film, as well as his sadness to be making the film without Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher (who passed away in late 2016).

Read more...

Carrie Fisher's Brother Says He's "Thrilled" Leia Is Back For 'Episode IX'

By: Dominic Jones

When the cast of Star Wars Episode IX was announced, one name most were pleasantly surprised to see listed was that of Carrie Fisher.  The actress who played Princess/General Leia in five Star Wars films from 1977 to 2017, passed away unexpectedly in late 2016 (after he scenes for The Last Jedi had been completed).  The cast announcement revealed that Leia would be brought back for Episode IX using footage that had been shot, but not used, for The Force Awakens.

Read more...

BREAKING: 'Star Wars Episode IX' Cast Revealed, Filming Begins Next Week (Updated!)

By: Dominic Jones

Lucasfilm has officially announced the full cast of Star Wars Episode IX and confirmed that the film will begin shooting next week on August 1st at Pinewood Studios in London, England.  The announcement revealed that newcomers to the saga Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant will join the cast, which also sees Billy Dee Williams reprise his role as Lando Calrissian from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. 

Read more...

'The Last Jedi' Blooper Reel Released Online

By: Dominic Jones

A new blooper reel from the filming of Star Wars: The Last Jedi has been released online by Entertainment Tonight.  The clip, which is about a minute and a half long, features several humourous moments with members of the cast including Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, and Mark Hamill.  Highlights include many alternate takes of Fisher slapping Isaac, and Mark Hamill in street clothes taking a trip down memory lane by sitting in an X-Wing cockpit.  You can check out the video for yourself below,

Read more...

Carrie Fisher Wins Posthumous Grammy for 'The Princess Diarist' Audiobook

By: Dominic Jones

The late Carrie Fisher won her second Grammy award tonight in the Best Spoken Word category, winning over some tough competition which included Bruce Springsteen, Bernie Sanders, and Neil Degrasse Tyson.  Fisher won for her performance narrating her book The Princess Diarist, which reflected on the early and later stages of career and featured excerpts from the diaries she kept during the production of the original Star Wars movie in 1977.  The book was released in November 2016, just over a month before she died after suffering a heart attack on a flight home from the UK where she had been promoting the book.

Read more...

Carrie Fisher's Contributions to the Dialogue in 'The Last Jedi' Revealed

By: Dominic Jones

SPOILER ALERT! 

Star Wars: The Last Jedi contains many bittersweet moments, but perhaps none more so than the scenes involving Carrie Fisher as General Leia.  Fisher died unexpectedly late last year, but her final scenes for the film were already shot meaning The Last Jedi did not need to be changed. But it did give double meaning to certain lines and moments (the ones that really hit me are Leia saying to Luke "I'm just glad you're here, at the end" and Luke saying to her "No one is ever really gone").  

Read more...

Rian Johnson Explains Leia's Big Moment in 'The Last Jedi'

By: Dominic Jones

SPOILER ALERT!

Perhaps the most bittersweet aspect of Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the fact that it was Carrie Fisher's final performance as Leia Organa, her most iconic character.  Fisher passed away unexpectedly last December after suffering a cardiac arrest.  Fortunately all her scenes for the film had been shot and the filmmakers chose not to alter her role in the film to reflect the actress' passing.  And Leia had some iconic moments in the new film.  Perhpas her biggest moment came following an attack by the First Order on her Resistance cruiser when she was thrown out into space.  She then used the Force to return herself to safety.  This was the first time we have seen character actively using the Force (despite the revelation that she was Force-sensitive coming in Return of the Jedi).

Read more...

Alien Based on Carrie Fisher's Dog Gary Fisher to Appear in 'The Last Jedi'

By: Dominic Jones

Carrie Fisher's beloved dog, Gary Fisher, who endeared himself to fans during Fisher's many convention Q&As in the final years of her life, was the inspiration behind a the design of a new alien appearing in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.  The news was confirmed by director Rian Johnson, who responded on Twitter to a question from Clair Henry of Fantha Tracks about whether "#SpaceGary" could be spotted in a still image released by Empire Magazine several months back. The image features Finn and Rose having a stare-down in the foreground, while in the background a wide range of alien creatures can be seen.  The director responded to the Tweet, saying, "YES! Wow, good eyes."  Check it out for yourself below,

Read more...

Rian Johnson Seems To Confirm A Big 'The Last Jedi' Reunion

By: Dominic Jones

Leading up to the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in ten days, there are many questions that fans are asking about the film.  But perhaps none more so than will we see the reunion of long lost space siblings Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa?  Following The Force Awakens fans would have been asking this question anyways, but it took on extra meaning after Carrie Fisher unexpectedly passed away last year.  And it looks like fans may get their wish to Luke and Leia together on screen one more time.

Read more...

Mark Hamill Talks 'The Last Jedi' & Remembers Carrie Fisher On 'Ellen'

By: Benjamin Hart

Next on the jam packed talk show schedule of talk show appearances for cast of Star Wars: The Last Jedi is Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show!

Read more...

Mark Hamill and Rian Johnson Discuss the Connection Between Luke and Leia

By: Dominic Jones

One of the big questions heading into Star Wars: The Last Jedi is will Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa reunite one last time on the big screen.  After Carrie Fisher tragically passed away late last year, Lucasfilm confirmed that Leia would be written out of the story meaning that this is the last chance for Luke and Leia to share the big screen one more time.  This potential reunion was the topic of the latest piece from Entertainment Weekly, which features interviews with Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill and The Last Jedi writer/director Rian Johnson.  The piece was released as part of EW's online coverage of The Last Jedi, which coincides with a cover story about the film in this week's issue.

Read more...

New Behind the Scenes Video For 'The Last Jedi' Released

By: Dominic Jones

USA Today has released a new behind the scenes featurette about the making of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.  The video focuses on director Rian Johnson and his experience making the film.  It also features new footage of many characters including Luke, Rey, Finn, Poe, Rose, and more.  We also hear from the late Carrie Fisher in the video, praising Johnson's talents as a filmmaker.  You can check out the video below,

Read more...

Billie Lourd Reveals She Auditioned for Rey in 'The Force Awakens'

By: Dominic Jones

We all know that Carrie Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd appeared alongside her mother in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi as Lt. Connix.  But apparently, she originally auditioned for a different part.  Lourd appeared on Ellen this week where she spoke about losing her mother as well as how she got her role in The Force Awakens, and how that led to her role on NBC's Scream Queens.  Check out the video below,

Read more...

Oscar Isaac and Rian Johnson Talk About Leia & Carrie Fisher in 'The Last Jedi'

By: Dominic Jones

It's well known at this point that Princess/Genera Leia actress Carrie Fisher passed away late last year, making Star Wars: The Last Jedi her final performance as Leia in a Star Wars film.  As part of Entertainment Weekly's continuing coverage of The Last Jedi, Anthony Breznican spoke with writer/director Rian Johnson and Poe Dameron actor Oscar Isaac about Fisher's legacy and Leia's role in The Last Jedi.

Read more...