STAR WARS: Billy Dee Williams Admits He Doesn't See Donald Glover As Lando Calrissian

STAR WARS: Billy Dee Williams Admits He Doesn't See Donald Glover As Lando Calrissian

Billy Dee Williams first played Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back, and has admitted in a new interview that he doesn't view Donald Glover as the character he first brought to life in Star Wars.

By JoshWilding - Mar 17, 2024 08:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: Radio Times

After first swaggering into the Star Wars franchise in The Empire Strikes Back, Billy Dee Williams later took centre stage in Return of the Jedi before reprising the role decades later in 2019's The Rise of Skywalker

That came just one year after Donald Glover played a younger version of the character in Solo: A Star Wars Story and, disappointingly, Episode IX really didn't give Williams all that much to do (there had been plans for him to reunite with the daughter taken from his by the First Order; for whatever reason, those were scrapped).

Glover is now developing a Lando movie - it was announced as a Disney+ TV series - but Williams remains open to reprising the role. For the right price, of course.

"Pay me a lot of money and I'll sell my soul," he recently told Radio Times

He then went on to share his thoughts on Glover's approach to the role. "He's part of a whole new generation. He'll create whatever he needs to create, to bring appeal to the character. He's a very talented young lad and very imaginative."

"I mean, it's not for me to say what he should do with the character at this stage. I took care of the 20th century, now he’s got to take care of the 21st."

"I had a nice little lunch with him. He's a delightful young man. Extremely talented," Williams continued. "But I don't see him...I mean, when it comes to Lando Calrissian there's only one Lando Calrissian. I created that character."

"I told him to be charming - two words! That's all I needed to tell him. That's all I could think of."

Lando Calrissian is a skilled gambler, pilot, and the former owner of the Millennium Falcon before losing it to Han Solo in a game of Sabacc. Despite his initial appearance as a suave opportunist, Lando evolves into a key ally of the Rebel Alliance, assisting in the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and participating in the Battle of Endor.

Asked recently why he's returning as Lando, Glover said, "Maya and I talk about nos a lot, it’s the only power you have in this industry. But I said yes because I like the characters and my kids love Star Wars."

Glover also shared the words of advice he received from the original Lando, the beloved Billy Dee Williams. "He was like, 'I don’t know. Be charming," he recalls. "And he wasn’t looking at me. That was my favourite part. I think a waitress or something went by."

Lando doesn't currently have a release date.

THE WITCHER And MAN OF STEEL Star Henry Cavill Rumored To Be In Talks For STAR WARS Role
Related:

THE WITCHER And MAN OF STEEL Star Henry Cavill Rumored To Be In Talks For STAR WARS Role

Disney Pulls Untitled STAR WARS Movie From 2026 Release Calendar
Recommended For You:

Disney Pulls Untitled STAR WARS Movie From 2026 Release Calendar

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, SFFGazette.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. SFFGazette.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that SFFGazette.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Be the first to comment and get the conversation going!

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder