7 Ways Disney Can Handle Leia’s Death in Star Wars Episode IX

2015 saw the return of one of the most iconic female characters of all time. Not only did we see the return of the feisty, no-nonsense Princess turned General to the silver screen, but we also saw the return of Carrie Fisher, the actress whose charisma and screen presence made her synonymous with the character. Fans were delighted at the news that Fisher, along with Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford, were set to reprise their most famous roles in the continuation of the Star Wars saga.

Tragically, on 27th December 2016 millions of voices cried out in mourning when the death of Carrie Fisher was reported. The sixty-year-old actress failed to recover from a heart attack suffered four days earlier on a flight from London to Los Angeles. While nothing compares to the loss of such a talented and beloved person, the death of Carrie Fisher does raise the question of how Disney will handle the character in Star Wars Episode IX.

Although Leia’s role in The Force Awakens was limited, she is expected to play a much bigger part in Episode VIII and possibly Episode IX. Fisher had reportedly completed her scenes on Episode VIII but Disney now have the difficult task of deciding how they factor her death into the plot of this trilogy closer.

Here are seven options that Disney could consider when making this titanic decision.

(Warning: contains spoilers for Rogue One)

 

1. Recreate Leia Using CGI

This is an option that has caused much discussion in recent weeks. The debate of whether it is morally wrong to resurrect an actor or actress by recreating their likeness using CGI is still up in the air.

The decision to recreate Grand Moff Tarkin using Peter Cushing’s likeness in Rogue One has received mixed reviews to say the least. While this was not the first movie to use CGI for this reason, it was the first to use it to render a perished actor for the entirety of a movie.

If Disney were to go this route with Episode IX, one would expect this option to be greeted with mixed reactions much the same was as it was with Tarkin. It would no doubt bring tears of joy to some fans, delighted at getting to see both character and actress on the big screen one last time, but for others it could be met with severe disapproval and possibly anger. Leia as a character is far more iconic and significant than Tarkin and would therefore need to be recreated to perfection. But, unfortunately, if Rogue One is anything to go by, the technology is just not there yet. Recreating her image is one thing, but CGI would not be able to recreate the personality and life that Carrie Fisher injected into the role.

Despite the risks, this is an option that the studio will no doubt consider as it would mean the least amount of changes to the current script.

 

2. Recast The Part With A Different Actress

If there was an option that could be greeted with more disdain than using CGI then this is it. The likelihood of Disney opting to recast Leia is extremely low. The main issue would be the same issue that presents itself as with the CGI option. Leia is just too damn iconic and it would just be too hard for the fans to see someone else play the role.

However, it is not unheard of for a movie studio to recast an actor in a major franchise. Most notably, the role of Dumbledore was recast following the death of Richard Harris, with Michael Gambon taking over the mantle in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban. Had Carrie Fisher not appeared in The Force Awakens, and Disney were able to cast an actress who could plausibly play an older Leia, then this could have been an option. But, as we have recently seen Fisher reprise her role, the fans would never be able to believe that the person on screen is the same Leia that we saw before, regardless of how good an actress the replacement might be.

 

3. Off-screen Death

This would most certainly be regarded as a cheap option and with good reason. An off screen death would not be the outcome that the character or the fans deserve. The last memory we have of the character should be a fitting send off and not a quick exchange between two characters or a quick mention in the opening crawl. The requirement to rewrite the script would also be a nuisance, especially as Leia was set to be a prominent part of the Episode IX plot.

Despite the obvious downsides, there would be some points which could make this an attractive option. There would be no need to play out her death on screen, which could be extremely upsetting to some fans following the death of Carrie Fisher. In fact, there would be no need to feature the character in the movie at all, whether it be by using a different actress or by using CGI.

 

4. Open With The Funeral

Fan service can be a good thing and a bad thing. When used right it will create pure delight among fans, but when done wrong it can be quite jarring and nonsensical. Provided it is done well, starting the movie with the funeral could be the best way to address the Wampa in the room. Addressing the issue at the start will answer the lingering questions and allow the film to move on with the central plot without being held down by the weight of Leia’s inevitable death. But, most importantly, it would allow the fans to not only say goodbye to Princess Leia but also Carrie Fisher.

When Paul Walker tragically passed away during the filming of Furious 7 the studio blurred the lines of the forth wall by using a combination of CGI and Walker’s brothers as body stand ins to create one last scene in which the fans were able to say goodbye to both the character and the actor, a decision which was well received. A funeral scene at the beginning of Episode IX could be a way to give many fans the closure they crave. A line in the opening crawl could be used to set the scene and prepare the viewers for the next 10 minutes which will no doubt be filled with emotion.

 

5. Have Leia Die At The End Of Episode VIII

A possible way for the studio to avoid handling the issue in Episode IX would be to address it in Episode VIII instead. Director Rian Johnson announced that filming on Episode VIII had been completed back in July; therefore, there could potentially be scheduling issues if the decision to film additional scenes was made. But having Leia die at the end of Episode VIII would alleviate the need to make the character’s death a major part of the plot of either movie, as the plot of Episode VIII would have already reached its conclusion and the plot of Episode IX yet to begin.

This option would still beg the question of how Disney decides to portray Leia on screen, and whether it was done using CGI or by using a body double (without showing her face). Of course it could be done in a way where Leia isn’t on screen at all, such as a scene where a ship which Leia is aboard is destroyed.

 

6. Portray Her Death In A Book Set Between Episodes VIII & IX

When Disney purchased the rights to the Star Wars franchise, Lucasfilm announced the creation of a new company division (Lucasfilm Story Group), whose task it is to ensure that all forthcoming comics, books, games and other media are non-contradictory to the films. Part of this effort has seen the release of multiple novels which illustrate the events leading up to the new movies. Recently, The Awakening hit shelves prior to the release of The Force Awakens and Catalyst was released in preparation for Rogue One.

Although nothing has been announced yet, one would expect the further release of novels to lead into the upcoming episodes. An Episode IX prequel novel could be the perfect opportunity to portray the characters death without the risk of mishandling the situation on screen. Visualising the moment in a book is a very different experience to watching it on screen. With a book the author is able to set the scene without necessarily describing everything in too much detail, this would allow the reader to fill in the gaps with their own imagination and have the character reach a more satisfying conclusion.

 

7. Using Unused Footage From Episodes VII & VIII

If you have ever watched the bonus features on a DVD or Blu-Ray you will know that every movie has footage which is left on the cutting room floor. Whether scenes were cut to reduce the run time of the film, or a particular scene didn’t fit in with the flow of the movie, there is usually a mass of footage which will not make it to the final version.

At this time we can only speculate on how much unused footage there is from episodes VII and VIII but there is a chance that there is enough footage which could be used by the studio to construct a couple of scenes in Episode IX. The difficulty with this, though, would not only be finding enough footage containing Carrie Fisher but also finding footage where the dialogue would fit in with the narrative of Episode IX and not seem totally out of place. The likelihood of finding the right footage is low but with the right editing there could be enough material to make it work.