Carrie Fisher passed away three years ago, but her legacy endures. From her beautiful written words in Postcards From the Edge and The Princess Diarist to her one-woman show Wishful Drinking, she made a strong imprint on multiple generations of women. And of course, she’s best remembered for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, where she’s soon to make her final appearance in The Rise of Skywalker.
But that’s not the end of Leia. She lives on in our hearts to inspire women and nonbinary people everywhere.And thanks to a new docuseries from filmmaker Annalise Ophelian, Leia’s impact on the Star Wars community and fandom at large is getting a spotlight. Looking For Leia, a 7-episode shortform series, will make its debut on SYFY.com on December 21, with two episodes airing back-to-back on on the SYFY television network at 11 p.m./10c. Episodes will also air on VOD, YouTube and NBCU’s OneApp.
Each segment runs approximately 10 to 15 minutes and showcases different aspects of the galaxy far, far away from a female and nonbinary perspective. Looking For Leia highlights the legacy of Carrie Fisher, tells the story of droid builders, artists and authors, cosplayers, and others whose lives have been impacted by the Star Wars saga. Episodes also focus on the importance of representation in fandom, and the value of variety in fan spaces.
The docuseries had a successful and much-buzzed about sneak preview at DragonCon earlier this year, but this is the first time the series will be available in its entirety for the public. Its broadcast also comes fresh off the heels of The Rise of Skywalker, debuting the day after the film’s big opening. What’s the best way to celebrate Carrie Fisher’s final onscreen performance? By sitting down and taking in her legacy through the story of so many other incredible women and nonbinary people in the Star Wars family, of course.
Looking For Leia comes from independent filmmaker Ophelian and her production company, Floating Ophelia Productions. It features appearances by authors Charlie Jane Anders and Bonnie Burton, voice actors Clarissa Yazzie and Geri Hongeva, SYFY FANGRRLS’ contributing editors Preeti Chhibber and Swapna Krishna, and more. Original music for the series was composed by Christy Carew.
— Looking for Leia (@LookingForLeia) December 16, 2019
Fandom can be a scary place for many, especially those who don’t feel like they fit in. Series like this provide space and visibility for the people who make the Star Wars community so nuanced and diverse. It’s an especially important thing to spotlight as discourse related to The Rise of Skywalker already dividing fans. (That’s the Star Wars way in the age of the internet.) We’re grateful to Ophelian and the other folks who put together something like Looking For Leia, and we can’t wait to check it out in full on December 21. May the Force be with them all.
Featured Image: Looking For Leia/SYFY WIRE