After the cataclysmic split in the fandom following The Last Jedi, it is hard to know what to believe – or what fans want anymore. Luke’s shock demise was hugely unpopular with a large section of the fans and the sudden death of Carrie Fisher also seemed to destroy any last hope there could be some sort of on-screen reunion for the three central characters of the entire saga. JJ Abrams has committed to honouring the entire three-trilogy story. Could the filmmakers really be trying to find this way to put Han Solo back on screen in Episode 9?
Fans already know Leia will be seen on screen in new scenes in Episode 9. Disney and Carrie’s own brother, Todd Fisher, confirmed unused footage from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi would be reshaped into new scenes for the ninth film in the saga.
Does this also reopen the possibility of a reunion for the original Star Wars ‘Big Three’?
A new leak said: “Disney and Lucasfilm are going through deleted scenes that were never shown to the public from The Force Awakens that will be inserted into Episode 9. Also, they are looking at pieces of dialogue spoken by Harrison Ford to mix them into scenes from the final film in this trilogy in order for the character to have proper dialogue with others in this film.”
The leak adds: “They are digging into the Original Trilogy, pieces of dialogue said by Harrison Ford, and modifying his voice and inserting it into Episode 9 in the form of dialogue to have proper scenes with other characters while meshing the footage together.”
Obviously, this is merely hearsay at the moment but nothing could please fans more than seeing the trio who took the Original Trilogy to iconic status being together one last time on the big screen.
The benefits could be huge but so could the backlash. The most obvious way would be using Force Awakens footage but showing Han from behind or off camera when he delivers these rediscovered lines. It could work, but it could also ring very false.
With much talk around JJ Abrams love of flashback scenes, there is also renewed hope Han could appear in a flashback or vision with his son Ben Solo/Kylo Ren.
The obvious question is why not simply bring Harrison Ford back in to shoot new scenes or dialogue?
The actor has never hidden his reluctance to return to the Star Wars universe and was always believed to be the driving force behind his own character’s swift exit at the end of Episode 7, so he is unlikely to return for scenes beyond the grave with his son.
It is equally hard to imagine Ford wanting to shoot any scenes manipulating old footage of Fisher.
For now, it is more likely these reports are wish-fulfilment as fans desperately wait for the first footage in the upcoming teaser trailer to reveal how the final film might shape up.
ORIGINAL STORY AT MIKE ZEROH