Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation #4The Rise of Skywalker, one deserving of Carrie Fisher's legacy. While Episode IX was released in 2019, Marvel Comics is finally publishing its graphic novel adaptation of the final Skywalker saga movie. As such, the entire mini-series has been full of expanded scenes and added dialogue, particularly for Leia Organa.

Currently, Marvel's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation has released 4 out of 5 issues by Jody Ho and Will Sliney. The most recent fourth issue covers the final moments of General Leia Organa and her attempts to redeem her son from the dark side. Now that her story has officially come to a close in the adaptation, it's exciting to look at how the graphic novel has expanded Leia Organa's role beyond what was seen in the actual Rise of Skywalker movie with the late Carrie Fisher.

Putting Rise of Skywalker In A New Medium Is Great For Leia Organa's Role

The Limitations Put On The Film Aren't Present

As many Star Wars fans know, Carrie Fisher tragically ed away in 2016, shortly after filming The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Seeking to honor Fisher's legacy with the character, Leia's role in 2019's The Rise of Skywalker was done using archived footage and dialogue from the previous two movies, as well as stand-ins for certain sequences. While this was the best way to provide a genuine posthumous performance from Fisher, it was not without its limitations. Naturally, certain responses and lines from Leia just couldn't happen as originally intended.

However, Marvel Comics' new adaptation is not nearly as constricted thanks to the change in medium. Now, Leia's role in Rise of Skywalker feels more organic and fleshed out, expanding her role with new dialogue and key moments with the film's characters. This is particularly true of Leia's scenes with Rey, and with Leia's corrupted son Kylo Ren (Ben Solo). In effect, one can presume that this is the complete role and performance Carrie Fisher would have given in what would have been her final performance as Princess Leia Organa.

Carrie Fisher Would Likely Approve Of Leia's More Active Role

Kylo Ren's Redemption Is Much Stronger Now

The best example of Leia's expanded role comes in the series' fourth issue. Knowing her time is limited, Leia reaches out through the Force to speak with Ben, who's dueling Rey at the remains of the second Death Star on Kef Bir. In the movie, Leia simply says Ben's name before lying down and becoming one with the Force. Following his recognition that his mother has died and after Rey uses the Force to heal his wounds, Ben is brought back to the light after speaking with the memory of his father, Han Solo.

However, this new issue gives Leia way more dialogue, refusing to give up on her son and telling him he can still come home. As such, Leia is given a far more active role in Ben's redemption alongside Han, something Fisher would no doubt approve of when comparing the comics' changes to this scene to what was originally shown in the movie. The Rise of Skywalker isn't without its problems, but it's been very satisfying to see how this comic has improved Leia's role in the final Skywalker saga movie, aligning it more to what Carrie Fisher's performance would have been.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation #4 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.