Star Wars Episode IX: Cast announced

Star Wars Episode IX begins filming on Wednesday next week so the cast has been announced.

Sequel actors Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac and Domhell Gleeson are all set to return, completing by being every installment in the trilogy. Lupita N'Yongo will also be back as Maz Kanata, which is interesting and hopefully she will have a better role to play in this film than she did in VIII. Billie Lourd also returns as Kaydel Ko Connix, being another character to be in every sequel film. Kelly Marie Tran is also back as Rose from Episode VIII. No word from BB 8 but I can't see him not returning.

Anthony Daniels returns as C 3P0 therefore resulting in him being in every Skywalker Saga film and general film (although not as C 3P0 in Solo). It has not been confirmed if Jimmy Vee will be reprising R2 D2 but it is likely. Joonas Suatomo, who has played Chewbacca in VIII and Solo is back as him in IX, meaning Chewbacca will be in 7 of the 9 Skywalker films.

Mark Hamill is back as Luke after dying in the last film. There were strong rumours that he would not return as Hamill has stated with Ford and Fisher gone that he doesn't have the same urge to return. He is going to be a force ghost obviously. I am pleased that Luke will be in it.

Billy Dee Williams is also going to return as Lando! This had been rumoured but it is excellent, excellent news. Lando is a great character and his absence from the previous films was somewhat strange. But he is back now and that is excellent!

Another interesting casting announcement was that Leia will return in IX. IX was always meant to be Leia's film but obviously with the incredibly sad passing of Carrie Fisher that wasn't going to be possible. They will use footage of Leia that was deleted from The Force Awakens to probably answer what happened to Leia. In the novelisation of The Last Jedi it describes how Leia has radiation after being sucked out into space and will eventually die from it, so we can guess that is what's going to happen this time too. I'm pleased Leia will be in it, even though it is likely to be a small role.

Naomi Akie and Richard E Grant have also been confirmed for major roles. I don't know much about Naomi Akie but I do know Richard E Grant who is an excellent actor who has played the Great Intelligence in Doctor Who. He is a very good actor who will no doubt be playing a villain. With Hux becoming more comedic, I think a new officer is what the episode.

It has also been rumoured that Snap Wexley will return, which is likely as Greg Grunberg is in almost all of JJ's films. There has also been rumours that DJ will return. No word from Nien Numb but it would be great to see him back and meet Lando again! Rotta is also rumoured to be in it. Wouldn't that be great!