Mark Hamill and John Boyega's reaction to 'bittersweet' Carrie Fisher 'Star Wars: Episode IX' news is warming hearts

Sobbing into our cereal, we are.

It was announced last week that the upcoming Star Wars: Episode IX — due to hit theaters in December 2019 — would repurpose unseen footage of Carrie Fisher to include her in the film as the iconic Leia. Fisher died in December 2016, nearly a full year before The Last Jedi (also known as Episode VIII) was released.

“We desperately loved Carrie Fisher,” director and co-writer J.J. Abrams said in a statement. “Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us. We were never going to recast, or use a CG character. With the support and blessing from her daughter, Billie [Lourd], we have found a way to honor Carrie’s legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII [The Force Awakens].”

Fans have been hailing the decision, as have Fisher’s co-stars. On Sunday, actor Mark Hamill — who played Leia’s twin, Luke Skywalker, in four of the Star Wars films — shared his “bittersweet” reaction to hearing that his “irreplaceable” longtime friend would once again grace the big screen.

Hamill’s tribute — which included photos from the various Star Wars sets — got fans feeling emotional; his tweet has more than 252,000 likes.

It seems Fisher’s legacy is just as important to the newer generation of Star Wars heroes. John Boyega, who plays former stormtrooper Finn in the latest trilogy and often refers to Hamill as “Dad,” responded to Hamill’s tweet with this heartwarming show of support.

In the words of one follower: “I am full-on sobbing, thanks.”

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

• Why Carrie Fisher thought ‘Star Wars’ would be the end of her career

• ‘Return of the Jedi’ at 35: The secret history of Leia’s golden bikini

• ‘Star Wars’ producer Kathleen Kennedy on the next 10 years of Rey, Poe, and Finn