Leia Reportedly Has Larger Role In Star Wars Episode VIII

Following the sudden passing of Carrie Fisher on Tuesday, a question mark has arisen among fans as to how the Star Wars franchise will handle the loss.

After reprising her role as Leia Organa in Star Wars: The Force Awakens last year, Carrie Fisher is said to have had a larger role in the just-under-a-year-away Episode VIII of the franchise.

The actress was expected to return for Episode IX, which is set for release in 2019, but the film doesn't begin shooting for about another year.

The Episode VIII is said to have been "larger" with Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd Fisher also in the movie. Whether or not Lucasfilm and Disney will make any changes to the movie which Fisher wrapped earlier this year is to be seen. There have not been any comments from Lucasfilm, yet.

The report comes from a source close to the film according to Deadline.

The next film in the Star Wars canon is a standalone Han Solo effort which takes place long before Episode VIII in the timeline, with a younger Han being cast in Alden Ehrenreich. The movie was not planning to include Fisher.

Fisher recently wrapped production on Season 3 of Amazon's Catastrophe comedy series, alongside Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney. The new documentary, Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher And Debbie Reynolds is currently set to screen at the upcoming Palm Springs Film Festival after premiering at Cannes earlier this year.

This is not the first time in recent years a major star has passed away prior to their final film arriving in theaters. Furious 7 was in the midst of production when Paul Walker unexpectedly died in an off set car crash. Walker's role in the film was altered, likely altering much of the movie's finish, to see his Brian O'Connor character honored with an emotional send off and speech from Vin Diesel's Dominic Toretto.

The production also had Walker's brothers stand in for him and even act a few scenes in order to imprint an image of Paul's face onto their own through computer graphics.

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Star Wars: Episode VIII is currently set for release December 15, 2017.