As production kicks-off on Star Wars: Episode IX, the film director has taken to social media to pay a glowing tribute to the late actress.
Abrams joined Twitter exactly a year ago, but hadn't tweeted until he wrote this tribute (his first and only tweet) in which he wrote: “Bittersweet starting this next chapter without Carrie, but thanks to an extraordinary cast and crew, we are ready to go."
He added: "Grateful for @rianjohnson and special thanks to George Lucas for creating this incredible world and beginning a story of which we are lucky to be a part."
Carrie's co-star Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker opposite her Princess Leah, also recently paid tribute to the late star. On 29 July, he took to Twitter and said that working on the new film without her is “bittersweet”. He added, “She is simply irreplaceable."

Bittersweet starting this next chapter without Carrie, but thanks to an extraordinary cast and crew, we are ready to go. Grateful for @rianjohnson and special thanks to George Lucas for creating this incredible world and beginning a story of which we are lucky to be a part. #IX pic.twitter.com/FOfnGwVut5

— JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) August 1, 2018