Meryl Streep to replace Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia? That’s what Sportsbet thinks and they’ve made her the $2 favourite to take over the iconic role in Star Wars Episode IX.
Sportsbet has installed acting royalty Meryl Streep as the favourite to head to a galaxy far, far away and assume the role left by Carrie Fisher who passed away in December 2016.
A petition to cast the Oscar-winning actress in the role attracted more than 10,000 signatures.
But pundits are also assuming Princess Leia will be written out of Star Wars Episode IX by writer/director JJ Abrams who helmed Episode VII – The Force Awakens.
The Sportsbet price that she will not be recast is a short $1.20 against $4 she will be recast.
There’s even a market for whether CGI will be used to replace Princess Leia – $1.33 for No and $3 for yes.
Carrie Fisher died well before the release of the recent Episode XIII – The Last Jedi – and the story concluded with her still in a leadership position with the Resistance.
But the interest in Streep assuming the role of still remarkably high.
She leads the Sportsbet market at $2 closely followed by Michelle Pfeiffer ($3.50) and Sharon Stone ($5.50).
Others in the market include Sigourney Weaver ($8.50), Kate Winslet ($16) and even Australia’s own Nicole Kidman at an outside $51.
Here is the full Sportsbet market:
Who will be cast as Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode IX
$2.00 Meryl Streep
$3.50 Michelle Pfeiffer
$5.50 Sharon Stone
$8.50 Sigourney Weaver
$10 Mary Steenburgen
$12 Julianne Moore
$16 Kate Winslet
$18 Billie Lourd
$21 Jamie Lee Curtis
$26 Sandra Bullock
$31 Laura Linney
$41 Jodie Foster
$51 Nicole Kidman
$61 Helena Bonham Carter
$81 Robin Wright
Will Princess Leia be recast?
$1.20 No
$4.00 Yes
Will CGI Princess Leia be used?
$1.33 No
$3.00 Yes
