J.J. Abrams Says Rise of Skywalker Will Properly Tell the Story of Leia

J.J. Abrams: Rise of Skywalker will “Tell the story of Leia we would have told had Carrie lived”

Despite rumors and news to the contrary, Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker director J.J. Abrams revealed in a recent interview with Total Film (via JoBlo) that the upcoming finale will ultimately tell Leia’s story as it was originally written. Wait. What?

“There are scenes where she’s interacting with other characters in a way that is uncanny,” Abrams said. “Hopefully, if it works, it will be an invisible thing and if you didn’t know, you would never know. But we got to tell the story with Leia that we would have told had Carrie lived. And that’s kind of incredible.”

Up until now, the makers of the newest batch of Star Wars films, and even Carrie Fisher’s own brother, Todd, insisted that the finale film of the Skywalker saga would have revolved around Leia. In fact, Todd even dropped the bombshell that his sister would have wielded a lightsaber at some point, which contradicts what Abrams is spinning. Or maybe Todd was exaggerating? Or maybe this was an idea Colin Trevorrow was exploring back when he was attached to direct the film … Who knows? In any case, it is nice that Leia will get a proper-ish sendoff, whatever the filmmaker’s original intentions may have been.

Returning cast members for The Rise of Skywalker include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast are Naomi Ackie (Doctor Who), Richard E. Grant (Logan), Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings), and Keri Russell (The Americans), who will also be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian. The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

In addition to directing, Abrams co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio (Argo, Justice League) from a story by himself, Terrio, Derek Connelly and Colin Trevorrow. Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, and Abrams will produce, with Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin executive producing. Composer John Williams, who has scored every chapter in the Star Wars saga since 1977’s A New Hope, will return to a galaxy far, far away with Rise of Skywalker.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is scheduled for release on December 20.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Memory of Victory’s Past in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
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Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISDOE IX
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

(Left to right( Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), BB-8, D-O, Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
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Rey (Daisy Ridley) n STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

BB-8 and D-O in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
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The Millenium Falcon in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
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Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Kylo Ren’s restored helmet in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

C3PO (Anthony Daniels), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Rey (Daisy Ridley) in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker