Star Wars Episode 9 Cast Announced, Including Carrie Fisher And Mark Hamill

The cast list for Star Wars: Episode IX was just announced on the Star Wars site, and it comes with a few surprises.

JJ Abrams is back to direct, and of course, John Williams will return to score the film, as he has done since 1977. Many cast members are returning as well, including, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd.

New cast members will also be joining the franchise, including Naomi Ackie (Lady Macbeth) and Richard E. Grant (Logan). Some OGs will also be in the movie, including Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams.

Despite earlier announcements, the film will indeed feature Carrie Fisher. In a statement regarding the choice, Abrams said, “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.”

Star Wars: Episode IX will start filming August 1 at Pinewood Studios in London, and is set to be released December 2019.