Disney has announced that Lucasfilm will officially begin production on Star Wars: Episode IX at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1, 2018.

As we already knew, J.J. Abrams is set to return to direct this final installment in the sequel Star Wars trilogy, with him co-writing the screenplay alongside Argo scribe Chris Terrio.

Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd. Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.

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Perhaps the biggest news dropped here is the confirmation that Leia Organa will be played by Carrie Fisher, utilized unused footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” Abrams said in a statement. “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.”

Previously, we had heard they’d be using unused The Last Jedi footage, so it is interesting that they’re going all the way back to The Force Awakens to make this happen. Let’s hope the illusion isn’t jarring to audience, and more importantly, respectful of Carrie Fisher’s legacy.

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SOURCE: Walt Disney Studios