Lucasfilm releases the Carrie Fisher tribute video that debuted during the 40 Years of Star Wars panel at Star Wars Celebration. Filmmaker George Lucas first launched the now massively popular Star Wars universe with the first film installment, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, back in 1977 - but the movie arguably wouldn't have been as successful if it weren't for the trio of actors who brought the heroes of a galaxy far, far away to life. Mark Hamill portrayed Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford the smuggler Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher the princess (now general) Leia Organa.
This past December, Fisher passed away, but will live on forever as one of the most beloved sci-fi characters in pop culture history. She'll appear once more on screen when Lucasfilm and Disney debut Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi later this year, but her presence was felt during Star Wars Celebration Orlando 2017 where a tribute video honored the late actress.
Lucasfilm released the Carrie Fisher tribute video online, which you can watch above. It features clips of the actress from the set of Star Wars: A New Hope back in 1977 all the way through to Rian Johnson's franchise entry, The Last Jedi, as well as pieces of interviews with Fisher. The video also includes an emotional montage of Fisher reciting her lines from A New Hope, which she never forgot, as well as interviews with her Star Wars cast members throughout the years.
The video debuted during the 40 Years of Star Wars anniversary panel, which was available to live stream for those fans unable to attend Star Wars Celebration, following spoken tributes from Lucas, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, and Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd (who made her Star Wars debut in 2015's Episode VII - The Force Awakens as a member of the Resistance). Fisher was an integral part of the Star Wars franchise, appearing in all three of the original trilogy Skywalker Saga films, and returned for the series' relaunch in J.J. Abrams' The Force Awakens; her likeness was also used - by way of CGI recreation - for a brief appearance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which set up the events of A New Hope.
She's expected to appear in The Last Jedi, on which she completed filming prior to her death. There has been much discussion about how her role will be handled in the third installment of the new Star Wars trilogy, Episode IX, with Lucasfilm announcing they wouldn't alter her story in The Last Jedi, or use CGI to digitally recreate Fisher. Recently, her brother Todd Fisher revealed he and Lourd signed released that allows Disney and Lucasfilm to utilize unused footage of the actress, but an official plan for Episode IX has yet to be revealed.
For now, fans have the chance to look back on Fisher's legacy within the Star Wars universe through Lucasfilm's tribute video. With Star Wars Celebration continuing throughout the weekend, it will not be the last time Fisher's presence is felt as she is sure to honored and remembered many times over the next few days.
Next: A Star Wars Fan’s Thank You To Carrie Fisher
Source: Star Wars
