On August 1, 2018, the returning cast of the sequel trilogy will be joined by a few new faces, as well as, a very familiar one. as filming begins on
Star Wars Episode 9. Returning cast members include John Boyega, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleson, Oscar Issac, Billie Lourd, Lupita Nyong’o, Daisy Ridley, Joonas Suotamo, and Kelly Marie Tran; they'll be joined by Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant, as well as, veteran
Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.
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The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “Finding 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 Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”
Filming will take place at London’s Pinewood Studios. with J.J. Abrams returning to direct the final installment of the Skywalker saga. "
Abrams co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Terrio. Star Wars: Episode IX will be produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and Michelle Rejwan, and executive produced by Callum Greene and Jason McGatlin. The crew includes Dan Mindel (Director of Photography), Rick Carter and Kevin Jenkins (Co-Production Designers), Michael Kaplan (Costume Designer), Neal Scanlan (Creature and Droid FX), Maryann Brandon and Stefan Grube (Editors), Roger Guyett (VFX Supervisor), Tommy Gormley (1st AD), and Victoria Mahoney (2nd Unit Director)."
Composer John Williams, who has scored every chapter in the Star Wars saga since 1977’s A New Hope, will also return.
The film is scheduled to be released December 2019.
(Source:
StarWars.com)