Mark Hamill Responds To News That Carrie Fisher Will Appear In Next 'Star Wars' Movie

Hamill, who will reprise the role of Luke Skywalker in the film, posted a moving tweet regarding his friend and co-star, in which he described the experience of appearing in a Star Wars movie without Carrie as 'bittersweet'.

Carrie died unexpectedly in December 2016, aged 60, after she suffered a heart attack on board a flight from London to Los Angeles.

After her death, many assumed that her character, Princess Leia, would be written out of the narrative of Episode IX.

However, after much deliberation, director JJ Abrams decided it would be an injustice to the saga and its fans were he to conclude the Skywalker story without an appearance from the beloved Resistance general.

In an offical statement, he said: "We desperately loved Carrie Fisher.

"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 honour Carrie's legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII."

And so, using unreleased footage from the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens (the seventh 'official' entry in the saga) the role of Leia Organa will be played by Carrie Fisher, bringing her character's story to an end.

On Twitter, in light of Mark Hamill's post, fans have offered their support to the actor, including the #CarrieOnForever hashtag.

"A beautiful sentiment Mr Hamill, I look forward to Episode IX and beyond. It has been a privilege to watch you work magic on the silver screen," read one comment.

"She will always be our warrior princess and an irreplaceable force of love, bravery and sense of humour," said another

Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) are among other Star Wars veterans set to reprise their roles in the latest film, who will appear alongside the new generation cast members such as Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) and John Boyega (Finn).

Star Wars: Episode IX will be be released in December 2019.