The Leia Conundrum

Just to clear things up (and honestly, I'm amazed I have to say this)- no main Star Wars character that shows their actor's face has ever been replaced in the same timeline that would correspond to both the actor's age and the movie's timeline. Obi Wan was recast because Alec Guiness would've had a hard time playing the character of about 25 years old when he himself was in his mid 80s. Han Solo is being recast for similar reasoning. It helps that we'd never seen a young Obi Wan, but even the Solo we see isn't going to overlap with the one we get to in A New Hope.

We know the differences, no need to pretend like these recastings are the same thing as replacing Leia in the middle of a trilogy.

Anyway...

I think Leia's presence can still definitely be felt in the film without having her be on film. Maybe it's a sort of thing where Leia is always one step ahead of the heroes, and we see the positive influence she has on the galaxy. Maybe her legacy somehow fuels the film. I don't know what they'll do- but consider movies like Apocalypse Now or The Wizard of Oz- in both, a character who gets very little screentime also somehow always manages to be the focus of many scenes in the movie. A good character can make that possible, and it goes without saying that Leia is a great character whose foundation was laid by an amazing actress.

 

Just a thought, if we do have a funeral........... would we see a body? I mean it would be easy enough to do closed casket. Or a cremation. They could probably make a wax figure that would look lifelike enough for a funeral. Or............ Maybe in the aforementioned build-up event, novel, or comic arc, or whatever it is that comes (heck a youtube mini-series might do the trick), we could see the Force Ghost of Luke finally giving her the Jedi Training she never did, and then at the end, the body just disappears. They then have a wake with no body, just a holo of her.

Which would you prefer to see?

 

Yeah, there's a big part of me that agrees, and none at all that truly is that set on an open casket. Also, I think it might be weird for her family to see her dead body on the big screen.

Question 2: Where should she be laid to rest: the ruins of Alderaan? Or the star left behind by the destruction of Starkiller Base (where her husband is).

 

Recast her. Leia is greater than Carrie Fisher.

 

A very unpopular opinion. I am not for this yet, but if it happened, I would probably be OK with it. It would suck, but might be necessary unless they have just relegated Leia's finale to happen off-screen.

 

Kinda like Spock's arc in Star Trek Beyond too (on a smaller scale). Both of your examples are leagues better than the one I just threw out.



I'm not a fan of having a major character die between movies, so honestly, if she can't die on-screen, make her off doing some other mission or have someone step up to finish the role. I think it would be a great way to honor the character and the legacy of Carrie.

 

Could be for the greater good

 

Leia ship explodes and she is saved by putting her in a White Female Vader suit lol.

 

I'd like to see her laid to rest on Naboo. Next to Padme

 

Hey now, When Harry Met Sally is a very fine film!

 

The resistance better check if Pooja Naberrie is still around.

 

How about this idea... mainly because I think there would be some interest in the subject of how one becomes a Force ghost, going all the way back to Qui-Gon Jin:

After the opening crawl, which indicates a time jump of some period and that Leia's health has been in decline (or something to that effect), we begin with the typical star field, but with a voice over from Luke Skywalker... Just his voice, but obviously appearing to, or heard by, only his sister. Therein, Luke explains to Leia that she has nobly led the Rebellion/Resistance, it is in good hands with the new generation of heroes, there is nothing left for her to do, and her time has come to become one with the Force. Then, he can begin to even vaguely explain how to do it... As the screen transitions from the star field like we usually see in the opening sequence of a Star Wars Saga movie, we begin to see a scene similar to what @LadyMusashi has described above. Just as Luke's voice begins to trail off, we see the silouhette of Leia's body disappear, just as Obi Wan and Luke Skywalker did in movies before. Maybe Rey is even present. It could really be an evocative and beautiful scene if done properly. While it breaks the tradition of transitioning to a starship (as JJ almost did in TFA), Leia would be worth it. In this way, we know that Luke Skywalker's Force ghost is still involved, we get a little explanation of how one becomes a Force ghost ("No one is ever really gone..."), and we fully transition from the loss of Leia (and Carrie Fisher) and complete the passing of the torch that was so clearly signaled in The Last Jedi.

I think this not only solves the Leia conundrum, but it continues one of the most obvious themes from the movie that just came before it. Moving forward into the future with a new generation. Thoughts?

 

I think there definitely will be a time jump so that Leia will already be dead prior to IX. I like the idea I heard Steele Saunders give where they mention it in the crawl that they passed and then start of with Poe at a memorial of her or her grave.

It was apparent in TLJ that Leia was started to pass the leadership role to Poe. Leia’s Death and Poe having to deal with it while leading the Resistance against the FO would be a natural progression in Poe’s arc. A dead Leia could still have a very strong presence in IX. Not only could we see how Poe deals with it but also Kylo. It could affect Rey as well.

 

I would love something like this... although I doubt it would ever happen.

 

Lets be honest their isnt a good way of doing this, what ever they do its gonna feel unfulfilling and jarring so we just have to make the best of a bad situation.

For me the only way to do it is set the film 3 or 5 years in the future and start the film with Leia funeral. How she died? I dunno would be interesting to tie it to the plot but how you do that with out been able to show it on screen im not sure.

--- Double Post Merged, Jan 26, 2018, Original Post Date: Jan 26, 2018 ---

while I hate the idea or her dying between films too, I just think it would feel silly that you've got a character who has always wanted to be at the centre of everything and plays such an active role suddenly off on another mission and not scene on screen while our heroes tackle the new order led by her Son. I just can't see them pulling it off.

The films mentioned the Wizard of Oz and search for Spock, well eventually you see Spock and the wizard of OZ we wouldn't see Carrie Fisher.

 

I've gone back and forth on this. There is a way for this film to be about Leia even though we never actually see her. In the crawl you mention several years have gone by, the resistance has been rebuilt, Rey perhaps with Leia is secretly training some new padawans. A battle happens at the beginning of the film in which although we do not see Leia, it is clear she is in "command ship A" or whatever. We then see that ship destroyed.

The purpose is to force Kylo to confront his mother. Death is a powerful thing and when it is unexpected it can take emotional characters like Kylo in very different directions. This can cause conflicts between him and the remainder of the first order, and perhaps the Knights of Ren who feel he is suddenly to unstable and attempt to take him out.

Kylo would not allow anyone but him to bury his mother, it would not be proper in his mind because he is the last skywalker. Kylo then creates an irrational plan to get his mothers remains to take care of them himself which sets up the final almost Hamlet like conclusion.

IMO, Kylo will die, he will be his own undoing. Something like this allows you to keep the film about Leia without her being in it. Much like VII was about Luke although he was not actually in it.