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Mark Hamill: Carrie Fisher's appearance in Star Wars 9 is 'bittersweet'

"She is simply irreplaceable." Hamill pays tribute to his Star Wars co-star Fisher online.

Bonnie Burton
Journalist Bonnie Burton writes about movies, TV shows, comics, science and robots. She is the author of the books Live or Die: Survival Hacks, Wizarding World: Movie Magic Amazing Artifacts, The Star Wars Craft Book, Girls Against Girls, Draw Star Wars, Planets in Peril and more! E-mail Bonnie.
Bonnie Burton
2 min read

After news hit this week that the late, great actor Carrie Fisher will return as Leia in Star Wars Episode 9, which will use unseen footage shot for The Force Awakens, her longtime co-star and friend Mark Hamill had a few things to say.

"It's bittersweet facing my final chapter without her; she is simply irreplaceable," Hamill tweeted on Sunday. "I'm finding solace in the fact that she won't be replaced & would love the worldwide outpouring of affection from those who loved her when they heard the news. #CarrieOnForever."

Hamill and Fisher have been portraying the iconic brother and sister duo Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa ever since Star Wars: A New Hope debuted in 1977.

Fisher's real life brother, Todd Fisher, voiced his approval for director J.J. Abrams' decision to use unseen footage instead of visual effects for his sister's role in Episode 9, TheForce.net reports.

"As we, her family, as well as her extended family of fans around the world so believe, Carrie's Princess Leia is forever entrenched in the franchise and her indelible presence is fundamental to the film," he wrote in a statement.

"J.J. Abrams understood Carrie's iconic role, and he has masterfully re-crafted this final entry to include this unused and very last footage of Carrie ever taken, without resorting to CGI or animatronics."

Fisher passed away in 2016, after she finished filming her role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi

The yet-to-be-titled Star Wars Episode 9 opens worldwide in theaters on Dec. 20, 2019.

Read everything we know about the upcoming Star Wars movie so far.

First published at 7 p.m. PT on July 29.

Updated at 5:29 a.m. PT on July 30: Adds statement from Todd Fisher.

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