As The Rise of Skywalker continues to rack up the numbers at the box office – as of 30th December it’s brought in $740,488,536 globally and rising – interest in the film and specifically its making and plot intensifies. One of the focal points of interest surrounding the film is Rose Tico actress Kelly Marie Tran, and she discusses the filming of her scenes which were anchored around the Episode 7 footage of Carrie Fisher’s General Leia.
“It’s one thing to sit there, look at that footage and try to react to it, but a lot of the big group scenes felt like they were puzzle pieces if that makes sense. I think there were more reshoots on those scenes, specifically, to just try and make sure all of the performances matched up since she wasn’t physically there.”
Tran also remembers filming the scene of Leia’s passing.
THR: The big Leia moment after she contacts Ben was just crushing. What was that day on set like?
KMT: Yeah… (Tran sighs.) I think it was really emotional for everyone. There’s definitely a sort of reverence that comes with knowing you’re in a scene like that. I don’t know how else to convey the feeling that I had on set that day, which is a feeling of wanting to make sure we did justice to that moment and to Leia.
THR: When a heavy scene is on the schedule, a number of actors have told me that there tends to be a lighter feeling on set as a subconscious response to what’s happening that day. Was that also the case here?
KMT: I remember us still being normal humans and kind of joking around about little things. But, we were always still remembering what we were doing. I think that day, for me, was very, very specific, and I won’t forget the feeling of being aware of what we were doing. I think we all knew how many people loved this character and what this moment meant to them. So, we just wanted to honor and respect Leia, but also Carrie.
