With filming due to begin in London on Wednesday, the cast has been revealed for Star Wars Episode IX.
The follow-up to 2017’s The Last Jedi, Episode IX will see the return of Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo and Billie Lourd. Billy Dee Williams will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian and Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell and Naomi Ackie have joined the cast for the new film.
Carrie Fisher, who died in December 2016, will be part of the new film. Director J.J. Abrams has revealed that footage shot during Episode VII that wasn’t used will be incorporated into the film.
āWe desperately loved Carrie Fisher,ā says Abrams. āFinding 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 Carrieās legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.ā
Released in December 2017, The Last Jedi took $1.33 billion at the global box office. It wasn’t able to beat 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which took over $2 billion.
Star Wars Episode IX will be released globally in December 2019.