In case you weren't already sad enough about Carrie Fisher's death in late 2016, producer Kathleen Kennedy has revealed that the actress would have had a huge role in "Star Wars: Episode IX."

In a new Vanity Fair cover story, Kennedy discussed Fisher's excitement about the latest trilogy, including her hopes of having a bigger role in "Episode IX." Apparently, after finishing her work on "The Last Jedi," Fisher went to Kennedy and told her, "I'd better be at the forefront of 'IX!'"

As the producer explained it, after watching her co-stars Harrison Ford and Mark Hammil get to be "front and center" in "Episode VII" and "Episode VIII," respectively, Fisher saw "Episode IX" as her turn.

"She thought 'IX' would be her movie," Kennedy told Vanity Fair. "And it would have been."

Needless to say, Kennedy's comments inspire some serious regret over what could have been. Fisher's character, Princess Leia, has been a beloved part of the series since the beginning, and it's hard to imagine the films without her. Knowing that she was meant to be a huge part of the story only makes our sense of loss more acute.

Still, we do still have Fisher's work in "The Last Jedi" to look forward to. Vanity Fair shared a touching photo Wednesday of Fisher and her daughter, Billie Lourd, who plays Lieutenant Connix in the movie.

It'll be bittersweet to see Fisher in her final Star Wars film when "The Last Jedi" opens Dec. 15.

[via: Vanity Fair]