“No one’s ever really gone.”
On December 27th, 2016, the world lost a princess – or in the eyes of Star Wars fans, the world lost the princess.
That princess was, of course, Carrie Fisher, the Hollywood superstar who passed away far too soon. And to commemorate the first anniversary of her death, The Last Jedi‘s Mark Hamill has shared a heartfelt tribute to honor the late, great actress.
Known for her on-screen role as Leia Organa, Fisher became an instant favorite among Star Wars fans for her mesmerizing performances. Equal parts feisty and fearless, over the years the actress cemented her place as a true screen icon, leading to the inevitable Skywalker reunion in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It’s a touching, bittersweet moment that was only amplified by Fisher’s tragic passing, and Mark Hamill plucked the above quote (“No one’s ever really gone”) from that same exchange in order to commemorate the life and legacy of his on-screen sibling with the following photo, which he shared on Instagram.
Prior to The Last Jedi, Luke Skywalker hadn’t spoken since 1983, so it’s small wonder why fans (us included!) felt the emotional impact of Hamill’s Jedi Master reaching out to his sister Leia. And make no mistake, as Mark Hamill has alluded to in previous interviews, that brother-sister bond very much continued off-screen, and his long-time appreciation of the actress will never fade. No one’s ever really gone, after all.
The Last Jedi marked Carrie Fisher’s final appearance in the Star Wars franchise, which only raises yet more questions over Episode IX. Those of you who have already seen Rian Johnson’s spectacular sequel will know that the writer-director chose to spare Leia’s life in the closing moments, so it’s now up to J.J. Abrams to complete the arc. And given that a Tarkin-esque resurrection is reportedly off the cards, we’re intrigued to discover Lucasfilm’s endgame.
