LOS ANGELES: American actress Carrie Fisher, renowned for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the iconic 'Star Wars' franchise, is finally having her final movie, 'Wonderwell,' released after a lengthy seven-year wait.
Tragically, Fisher passed away on December 27, 2016, at the age of 60 due to heart failure. However, she had already completed her scenes for the fantasy film six weeks before her untimely demise.
According to Deadline, the film distribution company Vertical Entertainment has acquired the rights for the North American and UK/Ireland release of Vlad Marsavin's directorial debut. 'Wonderwell' will have a limited theatrical run through AMC in the U.S. starting from June 23, 2023, followed by a digital release.
The director shed light on the reasons behind the delay, stating, "The journey we, as filmmakers, have embarked on with this movie has been as challenging as the movie itself." Deadline quotes him further, saying, "From filming to the big screen, it has taken us seven years. The visual effects for a movie of this magnitude require time, but we faced additional challenges due to the Covid lockdowns and, of course, the unfortunate passing of our beloved Carrie Fisher. Now is the perfect moment to share her enchanting on-screen moments as Hazel. Carrie was vibrant and full of energy during filming. She even celebrated her 60th birthday with us in Italy, where we filmed the movie." He added, "After a night shoot that lasted until 2 a.m., she invited the entire team to celebrate with her. However, the party had to be shut down by the police due to excessive noise. Her passing was a deeply emotional experience for the entire team."
Running for a total of 1 hour and 36 minutes, the official synopsis for 'Wonderwell' on IMDB describes it as "a coming-of-age fairy tale set in both modern-day Italy and an imaginary realm just beyond. It follows Violet, a curious and innocent 12-year-old girl, on a thrilling journey that forever transforms her world." Carrie Fisher's last appearance was in the Disney Star Wars sequel trilogy film 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' in 2017. Unused archived footage of her was utilized for the final installment in the sequel, 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,' released in 2019.
She also made an appearance in the 2020 Netflix documentary film 'Have a Good Trip: Adventure with Psychedelics,' where she, alongside numerous other celebrities, shared their diverse experiences with psychedelics.