Fans of Lando Calrissian, the smooth-talking gambler, Cloud City administrator and former Millennium Falcon owner, must be feeling good about themselves. Originally appearing in The Empire Strikes Back, the character, played by Billy Dee Williams has since become a beloved part of the Star Wars mythos. This can be seen in Donald Glover’s performance as young Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story, which has been praised as one of the film’s highlights.
Now, Lando’s presence will be felt even further for a new generation of Star Wars fans, as Williams is set to reprise his iconic role in the upcoming Star Wars Episode IX. Outside of a few animated appearances in Star Wars Rebels, also voiced by Williams, this will be the character’s first live-action appearance in over thirty years. Rumors about the character’s return were confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, which noted that Williams had to cancel his appearance at an upcoming sci-fi convention due to movie scheduling conflicts.
Production for Episode IX, once again directed by J.J. Abrams, will begin this summer, with Williams being hired alongside Keri Russell in an unspecified role. Whether Lando receives a “passing of the torch” treatment similar to that of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and (in the wake of Carrie Fisher’s death) Princess Leia is currently unknown. Star Wars Episode IX will star Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver and is set for a December 20, 2019 release date.
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