‘Star Wars’ The Last Jedi: Leia’s battles continue amidst grief and loss

“Star Wars” The Last Jedi's writer/director Rian Johnson shared new information and insights on what will happen to Leia Organa in the next film. As the leader of the Resistance, Leia has to deal with the loss of Han Solo and the repercussions of the devastating destruction of the Republic by the First Order.

Johnson told Entertainment Weekly, Leia’s character has been defined by loss all throughout the history of the Star Wars films.

Her home planet of Alderaan was destroyed by the Death Star, her son Kylo Ren, joining the Sith order, and finally, the death of Han Solo, the love of her life, at the hands of their very own child.

However, she has borne the hits and focuses on moving forward, Johnson said.

Leading the Resistance

After the complete destruction of the Republic including the capital and its leadership, Leia continues to be the leader of a very vulnerable Resistance group. This is the point where the story of The Last Jedi begins, according to Johnson.

The Resistance is now incapable of filling the void the Republic left because what remains of it is a small band of disorganized forces. The group was cut off, on its own, and now being hunted following the fall of the Republic.

But Leia Organa never wavered in her commitment to fighting to ensure freedom in the galaxy despite the grief or trauma she encountered.

The galaxy is facing the real threat of a takeover by the First Order now that the Republic is gone and no system can maintain peace and order.

Leia must rise above the devastating death of Han and the loss of their son, Kylo Ren, to the dark side. It would seem that their son, whose original name was Ben Solo, followed the path his grandfather took in becoming the ultimate terror of the galaxy, Darth Vader.

Passing of the Torch

Considering Leia’s character “suffered quite a bit,” Johnson talked to the late Carrie Fisher as to the future story arc of her character. In "Star Wars" The Last Jedi, Leia Organa’s story is entwined with that of X-wing pilot Poe Dameron played by Oscar Isaac.

Isaac told EW Poe, in some ways a surrogate son of Leia and she sees in him the potential of becoming a great leader of the Resistance one day.

Poe's character arc is evolving from a heroic soldier to a seasoned leader.

In “Star Wars” The Last Jedi, viewers will see the passing of the torch to the next generation, according to Isaac. Luke Skywalker to Rey and Leia to Poe.

With the death of Carrie Fisher, this may be the fitting storyline for her beloved character.