‘The Americans’ star Keri Russell joins ‘Star Wars 9’
Fans will be excited to learn that casting for Star Wars: Episode IX is ramping up as production nears a start.
Variety reports that Keri Russell has signed on for an unknown role that calls for “action-heavy scenes”, but it’s unknown if she’ll be Resistance, First Order, or unaffiliated.
Director J.J. Abrams returns to the franchise, finding success with Force Awakens, but stepping aside, allowing Rian Johnson to helm The Last Jedi. The outlet notes that “Abrams and Lucasfilm execs met with several actresses for the role in the past two months and settled on Russell right before the Fourth of July holiday. Abrams will likely cast two more actors by the time the film begins production at the end of the month.”
Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver will all headline the new film, closing out the new trilogy.
Russell recently wrapped the final season of The Americans, starred in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Free State of Jones.
One report noted that ‘The success of the scenes featuring Yoda in The Last Jedi were huge. ‘Yoda will again appear as a ghost as he acknowledges Rey’s success and growth as a Jedi. ‘The scenes are due to be put together later this year.”
Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia character will not be digitally revived for future films. Fisher died in Dec. 2015, but appeared in Last Jedi a year later, thanks to scenes that had already been filmed.
One bizarre rumor was Andy Serkis teasing the return of Snoke.
“Look, it’s Star Wars, so you never know how life, or whether life can be come back to or not,” Serkis said to Slash Film. “Whether you can be resuscitated or brought back. I was shocked. Dramatically, it felt absolutely right for that moment in the film, so I didn’t question it. I just think it’s a very, very important scene, so I didn’t question it. But I do, I know it’s left fans feeling like, that they were really searching for something there. And what I’m saying is, who knows?”
Abrams was brought in to take over Episode 9 after original director Colin Trevorrow left the project (or was fired, depending on which headline you read).
Star Wars 9 will be directed by J.J. Abrams with a planned release of December 20, 2019.
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