The Perfect Solution: How Star Wars Can Resurrect Leia in Live-Action!

Summary

A smart workaround in Ahsoka episode 7 involving C-3PO hints at bringing Leia Organa back to Star Wars to honor Carrie Fisher's legacy.

The ethical dilemmas and ongoing discussions surrounding the recreation of characters such as Leia through digital means highlight the argument of whether recasting would be a more suitable approach.

Considering Billie Lourd, Fisher's daughter, as a potential option for either digitally recreating or recasting the character is a respectful choice that would not only gain her endorsement but also honor Fisher's lasting legacy.

In Ahsoka season 1, the possibility of bringing back Senator Leia Organa was hinted at, but the absence of Carrie Fisher poses challenges in finding a proper way to reintroduce the character in live-action. However, there is a way to bring back Leia in a manner that pays tribute to Fisher's legacy. In episode 7 of Ahsoka, Leia delegates C-3PO to aid General Hera Syndulla, who is facing a court-martial for disobeying orders. This clever approach by Dave Filoni sparked discussions on whether Lucasfilm should consider digitally recreating characters like Leia for the present era of Star Wars.

Star Wars has previously utilized digital recreation to portray characters, such as Luke Skywalker's appearance in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, where a stand-in and de-aging techniques were employed to resemble Mark Hamill. Additionally, in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Lucasfilm digitally recreated the late Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin, more than two decades after the actor's passing. However, this practice of digitally recreating characters raises ethical concerns and prompts the debate of whether characters like Leia Organa should be recast altogether. Valid arguments can be made on both sides, but a potential solution seems to exist specifically for Leia Organa.

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Billie Lourd Can Act Princess Leia's Scenes

If Star Wars were to bring back the Princess of Alderaan, the most appropriate approach would be to have actress Billie Lourd, Fisher's daughter, assume the role. Lourd bears a striking resemblance to her mother and would be an excellent choice for either digitally recreating or recasting the character. Additionally, Lourd is no stranger to the Star Wars universe, having portrayed Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix, a devoted Resistance officer, in the sequel trilogy.

Leia Has Been Digitally Recreated Before

In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Lourd portrayed a young Princess Leia undergoing training under the guidance of her brother as a Jedi. Utilizing deepfake technology, Lourd's appearance was altered to resemble her mother. Given Lourd's previous experience standing in for Fisher, she is more than capable of reprising the role once again. By entrusting Lourd with the character, it not only pays homage to Fisher's legacy but also signifies her endorsement for the continuation of Princess Leia's narrative within the Star Wars universe. The question of whether Lucasfilm should recast Luke, Leia, and Han Solo has been a topic of fervent debate. Nevertheless, they have already taken steps towards that direction with prequel films like Solo: A Star Wars Story, digital recreations, and deepfakes.

Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia in A New Hope was digitally recreated using CGI in the final scene of Rogue One. Despite the brevity of this appearance, it utilized a combination of a body double, computer-generated imagery, and recycled dialogue. Fisher found the process amusing when the film was released, and it is hoped that she would have a similar reaction if Billie Lourd were to take on the role of Leia as a stand-in. Given Leia's importance in the New Republic Era of Star Wars, Dave Filoni and Lucasfilm cannot solely rely on creative workarounds involving other characters, as they did in Ahsoka episode 7.