Four decades after the “Star Wars” saga began, the next film– coming in December– will close the best known chapter.

Executive producer Kathleen Kennedy confirmed today in an interview with ABC (conveniently owned by Disney) that Carrie Fisher will make her final appearance as Princess (General) Leia in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” coming December 15th.

With Harrison Ford’s Han Solo murdered in “The Force Awakens,” and Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker evidently the actual last Jedi, that means this episode of the epic space opera will bring to an end the original trio of beloved characters.

Fisher’s brother, Todd, had said earlier in the week that he’d agreed to let LucasFilms use his sister’s likeness in Chapter 9, the film that follows “Last Jedi.” But Kennedy said Todd Fisher “was probably confused” and that Carrie– who died suddenly and tragically in December– would not be in that film. “We’ll see a lot of Carrie in Episode 8,” Kennedy said.

This is best for everyone. When “Star Wars” resumes in Chapter 9 it should be with all new characters, or at least the ones who’ve been developed contemporaneously– the ones played by Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. Forty years is a long time — maybe the longest- for a movie series to run.

The original “Star Wars” opened on May 25, 1977.

Here’s the new teaser for “The Last Jedi”:

Time changes everything.

Once upon time, Whitney Houston’s signature track, “I Will Always Love You” was the centerpiece of her hit movie “The Bodyguard.” The movie was a romantic drama with little actual violence and nothing remotely objectionable in language.

Two decades later, “I Will Always Love You” is now part of a new movie campaign. Someone approved the beloved recording to be used for the new Samuel L. Jackson-Ryan Reynolds movie “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.” Maybe they got confused because the word bodyguard is in both titles.

But “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” — while I’m sure lots of fun– looks pretty violent. It’s a little Tarantino-ish, in fact. Not only would Whitney be appalled, I’ll bet the song’s writer– Dolly Parton– would be surprised to see this teaser trailer.

The best quote: “This guy single handedly ruined the word Mother-f—ker.”

EXCLUSIVE As I wrote last night plenty of stars, including Cher, sat through the Hollywood premiere of Terry George’s epic love story set against the Armenian genocide. Our spies say that Cher was so moved she left in tears with pal jewelry designer Loree Rodkin.

But some other people who attended “The Promise” opening night at Graumann’s Chinese Theater weren’t so attentive. Leonardo DiCaprio brought his mother to the premiere as guests of producer Mike Medavoy– for whom the movie is a passion project. But moments after the film began, Leo and a bodyguard were seen exiting theater. “He had his baseball hat clamped down,” says a source. “He and the bodyguard disappeared– maybe to a green room– and didn’t return until they heard applause at the end of the film.”

At least Leo stayed in the actual building. Kim Kardashian and her sister Kourtney came to the red carpet, got their pictures taken, and left without seeing the film. “Kim even did selfies with fans,” says a spy. “It’s a movie about genocide.” The women are of Armenian descent thanks to their late father, OJ Simpson’s lawyer Robert Kardashian.

Other stars like Orlando Bloom, Don Cheadle and Nina Dobrev (separately) graciously stayed and enjoyed the masterful film.

Hell has frozen over. Adam Sandler is coming to Cannes in official selection. Is there no mercy in such a terrible year?

The film is Noah Baumbach’s “The Meyerowitz Stories,” starring the great Dustin Hoffman. I guess Sandler plays his son. The idea of Sandler on the Croisette is more than anyone can take. Cannes is press-friendly. Sandler hates press and it’s mutual. That should be a lot of fun.

To offset this horror, Nicole Kidman is in four films including Sofia Coppola’s
“The Beguiled.” So that’s great news. There’s nothing better than Nicole Kidman in Cannes.

Otherwise, so far, the Cannes list for this year is a mixed bag with few American entries. The opening night film is a French one, Arnaud Desplechin’s “Fantomes de Ismael,” starring Marion Cotillard and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Those two ladies are like rock stars in France.

Missing from the list is Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk,” which a lot of hot air prognosticators predicted would be there.

Other highlights are Todd Haynes’ “Wonderstruck,” John Cameron Mitchell’s “How to Talk to Girls At Parties,” Lynne Ramsay’s “You Were Never Really Here,” and Michel Hazanavicius’s Godard film, “Redoubtable.”

They’re also touting a documentary by Vanessa Redgrave, a short film by Kristen Stewart, and screenings of TV shows “Twin Peaks” and “Top of the Lake.”

I know Thierry Fremaux is struggling this year because so many films aren’t finished, or their distributors don’t want to show them in May for a December release. But he will add titles over the next couple of weeks, no doubt.

Graumann’s Chinese Theater: Who caused the big ruckus tonight on the red carpet for Terry George’s movie “The Promise”? Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac star in this tale of the Armenian genocide– a movie about which I broke the original story 18 months ago. Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian left a huge budget for the film, hired Terry George, and then died at age 96. All the profits from the movie are going to charity.

So that red carpet: Christian Bale! Cher! Leonardo DiCaprio, as the guest of producer Mike Medavoy and wife Irena; Orlando Bloom! Kim Kardashian! Wildness and a frenzy. Our Leah Sydney says she’s never seen this much security at a premiere! Where is Oscar Isaac? Shooting more “Star Wars.” You know if you don’t show up they CGI you!

I wonder if anyone will ask Kim K what she thinks about step dad Caitlyn A) swapping out old genitals for new or b) Caitlyn Jenner writing in her book that Robert K told him OJ was guilty.

More from the night as it unfolds.

“Hurt Locker” Oscar winners Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal have re-teamed for “Detroit,” an incendiary chronicle of life in America’s most dangerous city. John Krasinski, Anthony Mackie and Jason Mitchell are among the stars. Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Films will distribute “Detroit” on August 4th– their first move as an independent studio after winning Oscars and accolades in a short time. This will be the first important film of the year. PS They didn’t shoot this in Detroit, of course. It was shot in Dorchester, Mass, a dicey section of Boston. (Ask Mark Wahlberg.)