Those holding out hope for the ice-cool Lando Calrissian to swing by Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be disappointed to learn that Billy Dee Williams isn’t involved in Rian Johnson’s forthcoming sequel whatsoever.
News comes to us via the ongoing Celebration event in Orlando, Florida (with a tip of the hat to /Film), where Williams appeared on a panel specifically dedicated to the life and legacy of his Cloud City dweller. Bear in mind that there’s still a small chance that the actor’s comments are simply smoke and mirrors designed to maintain some semblance of surprise, but based on the word coming out of SWCO, it’s best not to get our hopes up.
Don’t worry, though; the spirit of Lando will soon live on through Donald Glover. The actor/artist who moonlights as Childish Gambino is attached to play the iconic Calrissian via Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s Han Solo anthology film, when he’ll be sharing the screen with Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, and many more.
If you’ve been keeping a close eye on the ever-active Star Wars news cycle over the past few months, then you’ve likely seen those candid photos of Billy Dee Williams meeting with Donald Glover to discuss all things Lando Calrissian, and here, the former reflects on what that conversation was like.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi shoots for theaters on December 15th, and is expected to lift the curtain on its very first teaser trailer tomorrow, so keep it locked to WGTC. As for that untitled Han Solo anthology film, Donald Glover will slip into the role of the smooth-talking smuggler on May 25th, 2018.