Star Wars 9: Leia scenes are ‘mind-blowing’ – JJ Abrams opens up on Carrie Fisher footage

Fisher passed away in 2016 after filming The Last Jedi, the previous movie in the saga.

But her character, Leia, will still be seen in Episode IX thanks to scenes that were filmed but not used previously.

Speaking at Star Wars Celebration, Abrams said: “Carrie was the best, she was glorious, she was amazing.

“It was impossible – what are you gonna do? You don’t recast that part, and you don’t have her disappear.

“The weird miracle of having a number of scenes that had gone unused… looking at those scenes and understanding there was a way to use those scenes and continue her story.

“The idea of having a CG character was off the table, we’d never want to try.

“So the idea of ‘what if we could work scenes around her’? And emotionally, every day it hits me that she’s not here but it’s so surreal because we’re working with her still.

“She’s in scenes, and so alive in the scenes. The craziest part is how not crazy it is.

“In some scenes with Billie [Lourd], her daughter… Princess Leia lives in this film in a way that is kind of mind-blowing to me.”

The plot continues to be kept secretive, but C-3PO star Anthony Daniels appeared on Good Morning America today – and appeared to hint that a major rumour about Episode 9 is true.

It has long been speculated that the droid plays a key part of the story; with some leaks alleging that his lost memories are the initial MacGuffin (plot device).

Daniels appeared to be caught off-guard when speaking about being kept on the sidelines in Episode 7, when the interviewer asked if he has a main part in Episode 9.

The actor was stunned into surprised silence for several seconds, before eventually saying: “You know you’re not allowed to ask me questions about 9…”

The movie will wrap up the nine-part Skywalker saga and the three-chapter sequel trilogy.

Abrams is returning to the directors’ chair after helming 2015’s The Force Awakens.

Star Wars 9 is out on December 19.