A Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker panel was brought to an eerie halt when the film’s director and co-writer, JJ Abrams, mentioned Carrie Fisher.
Fisher died after suffering a heart attack two years ago, shortly after filming all of her scenes for The Last Jedi.
The upcoming movie will also feature her, as the director has worked previously unused footage of Fisher as General Leia into the film.
Speaking at a panel in Pasadena, California, Abrams was explaining how he did this and when he mentioned Fisher’s name, the lights on stage suddenly started flickering.
“That’s amazing,” the director remarked before adding, “Hi Carrie… that’s so Carrie, by the way, to do that.”
Abrams, who was on stage with the film’s cast, also revealed how difficult it was to wrap-up the sequel Star Wars trilogy without Leia.
Carrie Fisher – In pictures
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Carrie Fisher poses for cameras as she arrives at the European Premiere of Star Wars, The Force Awakens in Leicester Square, London in December 2016
Paul Hackett/Reuters
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Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
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Princess Leia and Han Solo (Carrie Fisher & Harrison Ford) kiss in The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
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Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) in Star Wars: A New Hope
Lucasfilm
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Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds hold their baby daughter, Carrie Frances Fisher in 1957
AP
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Actress Carrie Fisher in 1977
Getty Images
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Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
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Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Lucasfilm
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Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Lucasfilm
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Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi (1983)
Lucasfilm
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Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi (1983)
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Carrie Fisher and singer Paul Simon stand together at their apartment in New York during their wedding reception on 16 August 1983
Mario Suriani/AP
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Legendary actress Debbie Reynolds poses with her daughter Carrie Fisher after Reynolds star in the live theatre and stage category was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during ceremonies in 1997
Reuters
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Debbie Reynolds and daughter Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars movie, joining a Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper character as they arrive for the premiere of ‘Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith’ in Washington on 12 May 2005
Mike Theiler/EPA
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Actress Carrie Fisher and director George Lucas pose at the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award after party at the Highlands on 9 June 2005 in Hollywood, California
Vince Bucci/Getty Images
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Carrie Fisher and Daisy Ridley during the filming of the Graham Norton Show at The London Studios in 2015
So TV/PA
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John Boyega and Carrie Fisher embrace as they arrive at the premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in Hollywood, California on 14 December 2015
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
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Carrie Fisher attending the World premiere of Absolutely Fabulous The Movie held at Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square in 2016
Ian West/PA
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Carrie Fisher returned to the role in 2015 for The Force Awakens
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Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher attend the Midnight Mission’s 100 year anniversary Golden Heart Gala held at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on 30 September 2014 in Beverly Hills, California
Araya Diaz/Getty Images
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Carrie Fisher at ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ film premiere
David Fisher/Rex
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Carrie Fisher and dog Gary attends the European Premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in Leicester Square on 16 December 2015 in London
Dave Benett
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Carrie Fisher poses for cameras as she arrives at the European Premiere of Star Wars, The Force Awakens in Leicester Square, London in December 2016
Paul Hackett/Reuters
2/22
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
3/22
Princess Leia and Han Solo (Carrie Fisher & Harrison Ford) kiss in The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
4/22
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) in Star Wars: A New Hope
Lucasfilm
5/22
Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds hold their baby daughter, Carrie Frances Fisher in 1957
AP
6/22
Actress Carrie Fisher in 1977
Getty Images
7/22
Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
8/22
Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Lucasfilm
9/22
Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Lucasfilm
10/22
Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi (1983)
Lucasfilm
11/22
Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi (1983)
12/22
Carrie Fisher and singer Paul Simon stand together at their apartment in New York during their wedding reception on 16 August 1983
Mario Suriani/AP
13/22
Legendary actress Debbie Reynolds poses with her daughter Carrie Fisher after Reynolds star in the live theatre and stage category was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during ceremonies in 1997
Reuters
14/22
Debbie Reynolds and daughter Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars movie, joining a Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper character as they arrive for the premiere of ‘Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith’ in Washington on 12 May 2005
Mike Theiler/EPA
15/22
Actress Carrie Fisher and director George Lucas pose at the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award after party at the Highlands on 9 June 2005 in Hollywood, California
Vince Bucci/Getty Images
16/22
Carrie Fisher and Daisy Ridley during the filming of the Graham Norton Show at The London Studios in 2015
So TV/PA
17/22
John Boyega and Carrie Fisher embrace as they arrive at the premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in Hollywood, California on 14 December 2015
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
18/22
Carrie Fisher attending the World premiere of Absolutely Fabulous The Movie held at Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square in 2016
Ian West/PA
19/22
Carrie Fisher returned to the role in 2015 for The Force Awakens
20/22
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher attend the Midnight Mission’s 100 year anniversary Golden Heart Gala held at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on 30 September 2014 in Beverly Hills, California
Araya Diaz/Getty Images
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Carrie Fisher at ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ film premiere
David Fisher/Rex
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Carrie Fisher and dog Gary attends the European Premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in Leicester Square on 16 December 2015 in London
Dave Benett
“And there was no way we were going to do digital Leia,” he said (via InsideTheMagic). “When we went back to look at the scenes we hadn’t used in The Force Awakens, what we realised was we had an opportunity.”
He added: “It’s still emotional and moving to think of her and how sad we all are that she’s not up here sitting with us today.”
Attendees at the event included director Abrams, screenwriter Chris Terrio, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, and actors Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Keri Russell, Kelly Marie Tran, Naomi Ackie, Joonas Suotamo, Anthony Daniels, Richard E. Grant, and Lando himself, Billy Dee Williams.
Abrams is at the helm of the final instalment, which completes Disney’s latest Star Wars trilogy after 2015’s The Force Awakens and 2017’s The Last Jedi.
The Rise of Skywalker is slated for release in the UK on Thursday December 19 and will be almost two-and-a-half hours long.
