Warning: Major SPOILERS ahead for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

J.J. Abrams found a way to bring Leia back and give her a key role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, despite Carrie Fisher's tragic passing back in December 2016. Leia was supposed to be at the center of Star Wars 9, following on from Han Solo being the main original trilogy character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and then Luke Skywalker taking on the central legacy role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

However, the Star Wars sequel trilogy had to adapt after Carrie Fisher passed away suddenly at the age of sixty. Fisher's death, which occurred less than six months after the principal photography on Star Wars: The Last Jedi had wrapped, didn't affect the plot of Rian Johnson's film. However, when J. J. Abrams began to write the story for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, he had to modify Leia's role in the film to utilize unused footage from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 

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While Leia appears in several scenes throughout the course of Star Wars 9, her performance is largely compiled from recycled footage, often modified with CGI. Here's how Abrams was able to give Leia an important part to play in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, while remaining true to Fisher's own performance and legacy.

Leia's Role & Death in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Leia hugs Rey in Star Wars

At the beginning of The Rise of Skywalker, Leia is revealed to be training Rey in the ways of the Jedi, with Rey referring to Leia with the title of "Master." She hands Rey Luke's lightsaber as Rey goes to run a training course, a moment that appeared in some of the trailers for the film. Rey fails to complete the course, and returns Luke's lightsaber to Leia; however, when Rey leaves with Poe and Finn on a mission for the Resistance, Leia gives Rey the lightsaber once again, assuring her that she should have it. Hugging Rey, Leia says, "Rey, never be afraid of who you are."

When Kylo Ren and Rey fight on the wreckage of the second Death Star, Leia reaches out to her son. She does not speak, but instead goes to lie down. Maz Kanata expounds to the concerned R2-D2 as they watch Leia leave silently: "Leia knows what she must do, R2. To reach her son now, she must use all the strength she has left." Leia's intervention stops Kylo Ren from killing Rey, and gives Rey an opportunity to stab Kylo Ren. At this moment, Leia dies, lying down peacefully with R2-D2 at her side. Through her intervention, Leia helps both to redeem her son and to make Rey regret her aggression. Rey heals Kylo Ren and flees, leaving Kylo to reconsider his actions. Afterwards, Leia is shown with a sheet over her as the Resistance gathers around to mourn her passing.

When Rey flees to Ahch-To, Luke's Force spirit encourages her to follow in Leia's footsteps and finish what Leia started. He tells her about Leia's training as his first Jedi student, saying that Leia chose to give up her Jedi training after learning that it would be her son's downfall. During Luke's story, there is a flashback sequence that shows a young Leia defeating Luke in a lightsaber fight as part of her Jedi training. Luke gives Rey Leia's lightsaber, saying Leia wanted Rey to have her lightsaber to defeat Palpatine and finish Leia's journey as a Jedi. Luke also reveals that Leia knew Rey's parentage all along, but chose to train her as a Jedi regardless, because she could see Rey's determination and spirit.

Related: Rey's Parents & REAL Last Name Revealed In Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker

At the end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Rey visits the moisture farm where Luke grew up on Tatooine, burying Luke and Leia's lightsabers together in the sand. Rey ignites her own yellow lightsaber, before an elderly woman approaches, asking her who she is. When Rey says, "Rey," the woman replies, "Rey who?" Rey looks into the distance, seeing Force spirits of Luke and Leia in the distance. She turns to the woman and responds, "Rey Skywalker."

How The Rise of Skywalker Reused Force Awakens Footage

In order to bring General Leia back, J. J. Abrams used recycled footage, most of which came from only eight minutes of unused film from The Force Awakens. Abrams also reportedly used some footage from The Last Jediaccording to Carrie Fisher's brother Todd, although the exact amount of film that was available to him is unclear. This meant that while Abrams had quality and original footage of Fisher playing General Leia, he was greatly limited in his options. In order to develop Leia's role in the story, Abrams had to work backwards. First, he and his team analyzed the footage that they had available, and then they reverse-constructed Leia's role based on what was available to them.

While Abrams had to plan Leia's role around what Fisher said and did in the footage that he had, the special effects team was able to alter the physical appearance around Fisher's face to make a coherent story. Because the special features of The Force Awakens includes some deleted scenes, some of the footage used in The Rise of Skywalker can be seen in its original format. By comparing The Force Awakens with The Rise of Skywalker, it is possible to see just how much Carrie Fisher's footage has been altered to make her fit into a new role in a new story. Everything is changed, from the background to who Leia is speaking to and Leia's clothes and hair. In her scenes with Rey, her lines from The Force Awakens are interlaced with new dialogue, delivered by Ridley, that are specific to the events of The Rise of Skywalker. As a result, it appears that General Leia lives on, engaging in conversations with her new Padawan. This technique is generally effective, although sometimes Leia's responses to Rey seem short or vague.

As Leia lies down, trying to contact Kylo Ren, she is shown in silouette; presumably a body double is used for these shots which are specific to the plot of The Rise of Skywalker. Maz Kanata provides the exposition for Leia's actions. Similarly, after Kylo Ren and Rey's lightsaber duel, a memory of Han Solo appears to his son, rather than Leia, either as a projection or as a Force spirit, to dramatize Kylo Ren's transition back to Ben Solo.

Related: Why Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker's Reviews Are Surprisingly Negative

CGI De-Aged Leia and Force Ghost Leia

Rogue One A Star Wars Story - CG Princess Leia

When Luke's Force Ghost gives Rey Leia's lightsaber on Ahch-To, there is a brief flashback that shows Leia completing her Jedi training. Both Luke and Leia wear helmets that cover their face as Leia fights with a blue lightsaber, while Luke fights with the green lightsaber from The Return of the Jedi. After Leia knocks Luke to the ground, they reveal their faces. Both Luke and Leia's faces have been de-aged to appear close to the age that they would be directly after The Return of the Jedi. However, neither character speaks.

In this short scene, stunt doubles are used for both young Luke and Leia. The technology used is likely similar to that of Rogue One that recreated the face of a young Princess Leia on a body double. While the resulting footage helps to illustrate Luke's story to the audience, there is an uncanny quality to the de-aged Luke and Leia that is somewhat jarring and it is generally less effective than the interwoven recycled footage.

Leia's Force ghost, alongside Luke's, appears in the closing moments of the film. Leia's translucent blue form is not de-aged, and she is dressed in a brilliant white robe with a cloth draped over her hair. While Leia's face uses recycled footage from The Force Awakens, her clothes were likely edited for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

More: Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker's Ending Explained (& What Happens Next)

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