While it’s nice to finally have a few set photos from the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX, there’s still a huge amount that we have to learn about the J.J. Abrams-helmed trilogy-capper, leaving plenty of room for some fresh rumors to fill in the gaps in our knowledge with uncertain info. This latest report, for instance, gives us some indication of the ways in which that old footage of Carrie Fisher could be put to use, as well as suggesting how the new film might pick things up after the rather open-ended finale to The Last Jedi.
First, let’s start with Leia. It’s been reported that the famed General will feature in the pic’s opening minutes, sending the Resistance Fighters to meet her allies in the Outer Rim. Among her remaining followers are Poe, Finn, Chewbacca and Naomi Ackie’s as-of-yet unnamed character, all of whom will journey to this region to bring back soldiers to help in the fight.
It’s been alleged that the recent photos of the gang wandering through the countryside show parts of this section. Among the helpful groups approached are the Hutts, who are initially reluctant to assist the rebels in their effort, seeing how Leia killed Jabba back in Return of the Jedi. Fortunately, Finn and Poe somehow manage to convince the criminal syndicate to provide them with supplies and soldiers.
Elsewhere, Rose has been partnered up with Nien Nunb and sent by Leia on a special mission find Nien’s old co-pilot Lando Calrissian. It’s said that this will lead to a reunion between Lando and Leia, with Fisher’s prerecorded performance being rotoscoped into a new location.
In other news, it’s rumored that the new First Order front headquarters will be stationed in the Unknown Region, where Kylo and his men seek to conquer the few parts of the galaxy previously untouched by their influence. Naturally, Leia also has troops sent to this zone to defend what’s left of the free world.
Depending on how much of this turns out to be legit, it sounds like Fisher’s character could continue to play a central and strategic role in the resistance’s renewal. We’ll see if Abrams and his crew manage to pull off this somewhat risky feat when Star Wars: Episode IX comes out on December 20th, 2019.
