Carrie Fisher will appear posthumously in Star Wars: Episode IX

Carrie Fisher is going to appear as the former Princess-turned-General Leia Organa in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX. 

The news was announced by Disney and Lucasfilm on Friday, who said they had gotten the blessing of the late actress' daughter, Billie Lourd. The 60-year-old passed away in December 2016 after she suffered a heart attack while on a flight. J.J. Abrams, who will direct the final instalment of the Skywalker saga, said that she will appear in the film using unreleased footage from Star Wars: Episode VII.  His statement read:

“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 honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”

Star Wars: Episode IX will also see Mark Hamill reprise his role as Luke Skywalker, while Billy Dee Williams will return as Lando Calrissian. Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac are all coming back for the next instalment of the film. Other returning cast members include Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Star Wars: Episode IX begins filming in London's Pinewood Studios on August 1.