Search icon

Movies & TV

27th Jul 2018

OFFICIAL: Star Wars: Episode IX announces its cast and there are some massive returning characters

Paul Moore

In the words of Boba Fett “He’s no use to me dead.”

Like it or loath it, The Last Jedi definitely got people talking and while we do have issues with Rian Johnson’s film – read about them here – we’re still absolutely pumped to see what J.J Abrams has in store when he returns to the galaxy that’s far, far away.

Come on. It’s STAR WARS!

Ok, consider this to be your spoiler alert if you haven’t seen Episode VIII yet.

As that beautiful red dust settled following the Battle of Crait, the Resistance was reignited by Luke Skywalker after the most beloved Jedi in the galaxy confronted his nephew and former pupil, Kylo Ren.

As The First Order began to close in on Leia, Poe, Finn and the rest of rebellion, everyone’s favourite farm boy finally ended his exile by ‘Force projecting’ himself onto the surface to face Kylo.

After their wonderful duel, we learned that Luke was actually still mediating on Ahch-To – well, he might have been getting more of that funky milk, we don’t know – but with the enemy held back and Rey allowed to complete her training, our favourite Jedi faded into the distance.

His final line is absolutely class.

Well, as we all know in Star Wars, no one is gone forever and just like Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Anakin, it appears that Master Luke will be coming back as a force ghost in the next film.

Star Wars: Episode IX will begin filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on August 1, 2018 as all the main cast and crew return – basically, that means Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd – are all back.

This being said, the official announcement had a few more interesting details.

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.

What’s even more interesting is the fact that the much-missed Carrie Fisher will also feature in the film.

The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

“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,” says Abrams.

Composer John Williams, who has scored every chapter in the Star Wars saga since 1977’s A New Hope, will return for this final film in the most recent trilogy.

December 2019 can’t come soon enough.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge

Topics:

Movies,Star Wars