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Carrie Fisher Back for 'Star Wars' and Billy Dee Williams is Interested?

by Ethan Anderton
November 16, 2012
Source: TheForce.net, TMZ

The only word we've received about the return of any characters from the original Star Wars trilogy was an unnamed source saying that Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were up for returning. Since then, there's been no confirmation that the new trilogy (with a treatment written by Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt being handed out to directors) would bring back Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. Well, apparently one of those characters is definitely returning as a reader at TheForce.net talked to Carrie Fisher at a book signing yesterday, and the actress point blank confirmed her involvement.

TheForce.net has the quote from their reader saying:

"I was at Carrie Fisher's booksigning in Cherry Hill, NJ on November 15, and the interview she did started with the question 'Are you really going to be in a new star wars movie?' and Carrie answered quietly 'Yes....I thought it was already common knowledge.' She did not elaborate, as she probably doesn't want to crow too loudly at this point in the project development. But this is the first confirmation from one of the main [original trilogy] cast. [LucasFilm] has not said the cast would return yet."

So it sounds like Carrie Fisher definitely knows something that hasn't been revealed yet, likely from the chat she had with Mark Hamill and George Lucas not too long ago. At this point, I think it's pretty much a guarantee that Fisher, Ford and Hamill will be back in some capacity for Episode VII, even if it's not a lead role. But what about any of the other Star Wars cast members? Is anyone wondering if Lando Calrissian will make a return? Because TMZ (via ScreenCrush) caught up with Billy Dee Williams to find out if he would return for the new trilogy. He didn't say he's been approached, but Williams simply said, "I suppose so."

So that's all we have for now. It's not much, but the confirmation of at least one fan favorite character is good. However, since the original heroes aren't exactly in the same shape they were 30 years ago, don't expect to see much action out of them (except for maybe Harrison Ford). In the meantime, we're waiting for confirmation of a director after Frank Marshall recently said the candidates had been narrowed down to a couple of filmmakers. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Apparently Fisher might have been joking about her return as E! Online talked to a representative who said, "She hasn't confirmed anything. Everything you've seen has been tongue-in-cheek." Could this be a cover up to try and keep Leia's return under wraps? We'll try to keep you updated.

Filed under Development, Movie News, Star Wars

From around the web:

DarkRaven18599

I saw Billy Dee Williams on an episode of NCIS earlier this year. He's not looking so spry anymore. Maybe Lando's running his cons from a senior rest colony nowadays?
Dan

I love the original trilogy, but I do not see how putting them back into the series is going to help re-jumpstart Star Wars movies. I think a cameo of Mark Hamill as an old jedi might be enough but I don't get a good feeling seeing Carrie Fisher or a hairless Harrison Ford being to appealing to the eye.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Stefan-Andrizzi/1438239077 Stefan Andrizzi

The Star Wars books, comics, and games have provided so much great content in the Star Wars lore. I would be psyched if they ditched the ever going Skywalker saga and just did something new and different in the same universe. I realize this will probably not happen.
*sigh

It's the Star Wars high school reunion the musical. Why does it look like Disney is going to treat Star Wars characters like their other characters,you know Mickey & the rest of the gang, never ageing ,appearing in different stories which are not connected and have no impact on the universe.Basically "freezing" them to be forever recycled in whatever storyline and product.You know like Mickey & company.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7YGEVuJ4mM Carpola
  
  I want to like this comment more than once.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1503900114 Tyler Morgan
  
  "Mickey & the rest of the gang, never ageing ,appearing in different stories" Exhibit A shows an 18-24 year old male who is over-reacting to something that is not a reality yet. We call this hypersensitive creature a fanboy.
  - so called "fanboy"
    
    0/10 .Try harder.
  - Akirakorn
    
    18-24 year-old? What, he grew up watching Star Wars on Laserdisc? I guess "old farts" like that are totally out of it. I mean, they probably didn't have smart phones in highschool. Right?
    - "old fart"
      
      Smart phones? Heck,we did not have computers in high school,portable comunicators aka smart phones were pure Sci Fi . VHS ruled the day and PCs were domain of nerds and socialy awkward geeks.
OfficialJab

As soon as I read her quote there, I thought "have they even considered that she's probably joking?" Glad the update cleared that up. I wonder how many fans are actually interested in seeing them in the new films. I don't really care one way or the other.
WheresTheNewInSW

What's with the eagerness to see old characters return in the new Star Wars movie? Don't we want new stories told ? Preferebly stories about other families in the Star Wars universe and not Skywalker clan and their inlaws ?
http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves

Of COURSE they will at least get the main 3 back...
- Ryan Clemens
  
  Yeah I'm thinking that, for the love of god though I wish someone would get them into shape before filming though, all but Harrison look pretty bad.
  - http://www.facebook.com/chris.groves.507 Chris Groves
    
    If anything can convince them...it's a fat new contract.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Philip-Cinquegrano/100000932639147 Christopher Philip Cinquegrano

Someone must have told them all about my little maneuver at the battle of Taanab
http://www.roamandthink.com/ PBGray

I'm going to get bad ratings for this, but even though I love Ford, and I think there's a part of me that thinks Fischer and Hamill reprising their roles is "cool", I wish there was a J.J Abrams/Star Trek approach to 7, 8, and 9. Solo, Skywalker, and Organa are part of the Star Wars universe, not exclusively those actors. Sure, Indiana Jones brings up thoughts of Harrison Ford, but IJ is a single character in his own universe. Star Wars is a universe in itself with characters throughout it. In my opinion, it wouldn't be a bad thing to begin anew with some fresh actors and actresses. Would it be so bad to get a new Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia and start 10 years after Episode 6? My God you could go so many directions from there...making movies deep into the future children of those characters taking it to places that would excite people for Jedi yet unknown and maybe even more powerful or influential than the Skywalker family. 20 years from now I would be going on about the Skywalker family to my grandchildren, and they would reply, "Sky-who?" I'm okay with that.
- Xerxexx
  
  I'm with you. New actors taking on the roles would be a beter choice. I'm sure Ford, Hamill, and Fischer would love to take some cameo roles like Nimoy in ST.
Steven

The overall arc of the films so far is the Skywalker family, so at the very least it needs Luke in an Obi-wan Kenobi role to pass on the torch/lightsaber to a new generation. It does not matter if Mark Hamill is over 60, did everyone not see the Count Dooku and Yoda duel in AotC?? It wasn't Christopher Lee but a stunt double...
Guest

I say get Ford, Hamill, Fisher back and use performance capture to do their younger versions (a la Jeff Bridges in Tron Legacy, but better) - and then allow the characters to age appropriately in the first film, until the real life actors are on camera near the end. Could be a way to tell an epic tale. Either that or just have them do cameos.