Carrie Fisher Would've Been "Front And Center" Of 'Star Wars: Episode IX,' Rian Johnson Talks New City In 'Last Jedi' & More

The masters of putting on a big media show, but not revealing anything, Disney and Lucasfilm have given Vanity Fair the most generous look yet at “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” And while the profile piece is extensive, with some details about the new characters, the shroud of secrecy still remains. However, Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy did reveal that before Carrie Fisher sadly passed away last year, the plans for ‘Episode IX’ centered around the princess turned Rebel leader.

“She was having a blast [making ‘The Last Jedi’],” Kennedy said. “The minute she finished, she grabbed me and said, ‘I’d better be at the forefront of IX!’ Because Harrison [Ford] was front and center on VII, and Mark [Hamill] is front and center on VIII. She thought IX would be her movie. And it would have been.”

Things have since been overhauled for that film, set to be directed by Colin Trevorrow, with the decision being made that Leia will not appear at all in ‘IX’ (not even digitally). It’s an unfortunate loss, and certainly a challenge to the franchise, but one that seems likely for everyone rising to the occasion.

As for ‘The Last Jedi,’ director Rian Johnson embraced the challenge of being sandwiched by the other two films in the new trilogy. “J.J. [Abrams] and Larry [Kasdan] and Michael [Arndt] set everybody up in a really evocative way in VII and started them on a trajectory. I guess I saw it as the job of this middle chapter to challenge all of those characters—let’s see what happens if we knock the stool out from under them,” he shared.

However, he promises that the picture will still be light on its feet. “I didn’t want this to be a dirge, a heavy-osity movie,” Johnson explained. “So one thing I’ve tried really hard to do is keep the humor in there, to maintain the feeling, amid all the heavy operatic moments, that you’re on a fun ride.”

The director will be bringing new worlds into the franchise, including the casino city Canto Bight. “[It’s] a ‘Star Wars’ Monte Carlo–type environment, a little James Bond–ish, a little ‘To Catch a Thief,’ ” he said. “It was an interesting challenge, portraying luxury and wealth in this universe.”

“I was thinking, O.K., let’s go ultra-glamour. Let’s create a playground, basically, for rich assholes,” he added.

It sounds like there’s going to be a lot to discover when “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” opens on December 15th.