So Like... What Are They Going to Do About Leia?

Yeah, I also believe it will begin some 5 years later with Leia's funeral maybe triggering some interesting events (Kylo learns about it and starts operating more aggressively against the rebellion which is what he didn't dare before etc).

 

So off-screen death or recast or she’s gone into exile.

 

I'm thinking there will be a time skip between VIII and IX. In that time I think they'll kill Leia off screen and her daughters character will become a leader in the Resistance. I think that would be a good compromise. That way you don't have to recast or do anything too jarring. We all know Carrie is gone and nothing can change that. But her daughter assuming her role and continuing forward seems like the best way to go in my mind.

 

But it would make no sense plot-wise. Poe is the one who's poised to be Leia's successor after TLJ. Sure, Billie Lourde's character will definitely reappear, as she's one of the last members of the Resistance, and she'll definitely play an important role in its rebuilt structures, but Poe will be the one who'll take the lead.

 

See I was thinking that this would play into how she becomes the leader of the Resistance. Maybe Poe just isn't cut out for it? He's a great pilot but maybe not a great leader? Some tension between who should truly lead the Resistance might be a good place for the story to go in IX. I think Poe was supposed to take over that role but with Carrie's passing they might change it.

 

Some other perspective: I think it's fine if she dies off-screen. In classical theater tradition, off-screen death is actually reserved for the most respected or beloved characters

 

Its a Kobyashi Maru but in my opinion they'll kill her prior to Ep.IX with her death being the catalyst of the main plot. With how TLJ ended There will have to be a massive time jump (i'm hoping for 4-7 year jump) and hopefully Filoni and Co. will be able to do an animated series set during that time like The Clone Wars was and be able to give Leia a last hurrah there. Ep. IX will severely suffer from her absence and they will need to really try and fill the void and I'd do that first and foremost by bringing in Billy Dee Williams to reprise Lando (its a crime that he wasn't in TFA and even worse that he isn't in TLJ) I'd have him join the Resistance during the time jump and has since become one of the highest ranking leaders (position him to take over once Leia dies). Lando's presence can help soften the blow and his role as a General makes sense. In addition to that I'd do anything in my power to bring back any other OT characters to help Lando fill that void, try to convince Dennis Lawson to return as Wedge, have Nien Nunb get promoted to a General or Admiral, Poe will probably get a promotion as well. Hell I think the guy who played General Madine is still alive so bring him back. Out of respect to Carrie I'd also give her daughter a bigger role (hell I would have given her Rose's role in TLJ).

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 18, 2017, Original Post Date: Dec 18, 2017 ---

there is no way in hell they could ever do that.

I think that'll be a big evolution for Poe after the events of TLJ he'll realize his faults and work toward becoming a better leader.

 

Unless they use an actress and digital technology I don't see how anything BUT an offscreen death takes place. I suppose they could use footage that was cut from TFA and TLJ, assuming the footage is either appropriate or can be manipulated to make it work. But while it might be "lame" they have only few options.

 

I think there will be a time jump but it won't be a 10 year jump. More than likely it be maybe 2 to 5 years gap. 10 years is too big of a stretch to age the actors without using cgi and or makeup only in a real life 2 year span. Movie coming out in 2019, not 2027.

4 years would be close to the maximum. 7 years is too much of a stretch to age actors in 2 years time. If a time jump does happen, it will be 2 to 5 years. Plenty of time to rebuild things. I can see the Episode X being a 10 year jump or something to give time for the actors to age naturally.

 

Here's what they are going to do about Leia.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Nothing.

That’s the message of TLJ. You think it's important, but it's really not.

 

Leia’s death actually lends itself well to ReyBen as it means Ben literally has no one left that feels anything for him except Rey. And that too lends itself to Rey’s hero journey as only she can do the ultimate deed - save Ben Solo.

I’d prefer Carrie not have died of course but well, silver linings and all that...

Ps. Yeah, 3-5 year time jump. Leia’s funeral. She was ill (we’ve not had space cancer yet) and Luke helped her join the Force (DigniForce Inc.) - we will hear her voice speaking to Ben at some point.

 

I have my two votes.

Start the crawl with the announcement of her death. "General Leia Organa has DIED..."

Or the lesser popular, recast. I have my issues with that, and understand everyone who says "no way" but if the character was needed for the story then she should be recast. But I think JJ was brought on to rewrite the script to make sure they don't have to really worry about recasting.

 

That is the million dollar question. Recasting Carrie Fisher would be a bad call in that while I can see an argument, considering how there are fans who are polarized/ negative about Han Solo's casting; LF would want to avoid that headache. Same with CGI; I didn't mind Tarkin, but I get why people didn't like it.

The idea I'd go with would be a big timeskip, like five years and we open the film with Leia's furneral. She may have died from a broken heart with sensing Luke was gone or maybe even Ben. I'm not sure; but make her death have meaning.

 

I read an article (I can find it if anyone's interested) that when Leia is in the medical bay in The Last Jedi, they used an extremely realistic model created in Carrie Fisher's likeness so that she wouldn't have to lie there without moving for long periods of time. If this is true, then I think it's plausible that they could do something like this with her in Episode IX—at the very least, they could give her a funeral scene of some sorts.

To me, that's more respectful and believable than just saying she died in the opening crawl, and it allows us to see the emotional impact that such an event has on the characters. At the end of The Last Jedi, though she had her doubts, Leia prevailed as—yet again—the only character that was hopeful for the future of the Resistance. Finn even says during the Battle of Crait that people believe in Leia. She's a symbol of hope. If everyone else is really just as hopeless as they were at the end of The Last Jedi, her death could be the catalyst for what happens in Episode IX.

Plus, I think they may have just enough footage of her to recreate her as a Force ghost for the finale of the film. (I hope so, at least. I'd love to see her in the film in some capacity, especially if it allows for another Luke/Leia reunion, or, even better, a Luke/Leia/Han reunion.)

 

My best guess is that they have some cutting room floor footage that can be edited up to do something with.

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 21, 2017, Original Post Date: Dec 21, 2017 ---

Carrie is an icon, but she's not holy ground. I don't think that recasting her would be as bad as it sounds. Of course, there are a bunch who would hate it, but if TFA and TLJ has proven anything is that there are a portion of fans who are going to be bent and unhappy no matter what, so they should do as RJ did and run with the story that they want to tell.

 

Leia will die in an animated tv series set between VIII and IX. To be announced (2018).

Mark my word!

 

Such a stupid decision to keep her alive and kill Luke off.. so incredibly dumb.

 

To me, FF time makes the most sense. Also allows the Resistance to re-build and let the First Order work on a new "threat". Opening with her funeral would be amazing. Sets up Poe and (other heroes unknown?) to take the reigns.

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 22, 2017, Original Post Date: Dec 22, 2017 ---

I'll reserve my concerns until we see Luke's role in Ep 9.