Star Wars Man

J.J. Abrams’ Episode IX will begin filming on August 1 at London’s Pinewood Studios, StarWars.com has annouced, confirming that Billy Dee Williams, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher (via unused The Force Awakens footage) will be returning.

Interestingly, the release calls IX “the final installment of the Skywalker saga.”

As expected, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Anthony Daniels, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd are also returning. They’re being joined by new (to Star Wars) faces, Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant.

More details on the Fisher footage:

The role of Leia Organa will once again be played by Carrie Fisher, using previously unreleased footage shot for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. “We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” says Abrams. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie, we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII.”

Star Wars Rebels has been nominated for three Emmys for the show’s fourth and final season: Children’s Program, Sound Editing, and a Music Composition nod for Kevin Kiner.

The show was nominated for Children’s Program last year as well, but lost to Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas.

Game of Thrones has the most nominations this year, with 22, though nothing for Star Wars alumni Emilia Clarke, who submitted in the lead actress category this year.

Lando Calrissian is coming back – again. The Hollywood Reporter, backing up a Fantha Tracks report from June, is now saying that Billy Dee Williams will reprise the role in Episode IX.

A younger version of Lando, played by Donald Glover, appeared in May’s Solo, but Billy Dee hasn’t played the character on screen since Return of the Jedi, though he did do some voice work on Rebels.