Filming is officially underway on。 Star Wars Episode IX  。, with director J.J. Abrams returning to the helm. Abrams tweeted about the start of filming with a special mention of Carrie Fisher, whose untimely death in 2016 incontrovertibly impacted the series and its future.。

SEE ALSO:Mark Hamill shared a nice post about Carrie Fisher in Star Wars and now we're crying again 。

Fans received a surprise in July when Fisher's name appeared in the cast for 。 Fans received a surprise in July when Fisher's name appeared in the cast for。Episode IX 。 . Abrams explained that she would appear in unseen footage from 。The Force Awakens。

, which he also directed. Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd approved the decision.。Mashable Top StoriesStay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter
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Star Wars: Episode IX 。

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is due in Dec. 2019.。

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In honor of 'Solo' hitting theaters, we talked about what makes Star Wars so magical 。TopicsDisneyStar WarsCelebrities。