Leia is no longer a Princess, plus more photos from The Force Awakens

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Believe it or not, but we're just slightly over a month away from the premiere of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS. So close and yet so far, but as we near the big premiere we've been receiving more and more tidbits about the production as well as new photos to keep us talking about all things Star Wars. Earlier today Harrison Ford discussed returning to play Han Solo and a few new Han Solo images were also included; now it's Carrie Fisher's turn to talk about Princess Leia, except this time, she won't be referred to as Princess.

J.J. Abrams revealed to Entertainment Weekly that Leia will now be "referred to as General, but…there’s a moment in the movie where a character sort of slips and calls her ‘Princess." Carrie Fisher described General Leia as "solitary, under a lot of pressure [and], committed as ever to her cause, but I would imagine feeling somewhat defeated, tired, and pissed.”

Abrams has referred to Leia's arc in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS as one of the heavier ones in the film, saying:

The stakes are pretty high in the story for her, so there’s not much goofing around where Leia’s concerned, but it felt historic to have her, especially with Harrison, back in scenes together. I can only imagine the baggage that they bring to it, I’m just a fan who loves this stuff, but they’ve been living with it — and living in it — since ’77.

Despite the emotional heaviness which Carrie Fisher had to bring to the role this time around, J.J. Abrams has said that Fisher's presence made production "a truly joyful experience, and I think that that has to do with the fact that people as funny as Carrie Fisher were simply there. It’s an amazing thing, her sort of free-associative mind, her ability to find humor in anything — she’s like a divining rod for wordplay. She’s incredible.” Entertainment Weekly has also released a handful of new images from the film, and you can check those out below!

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS arrives in theaters on December 18, 2015.