Billy Dee Williams to Return as Lando Calrissian in Upcoming ‘Star Wars’ Movie
Episode IX just got a whole lot cooler.
![Lando](https://www.maxim.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/lando.jpg?w=788&h=444&crop=1)
There’s no doubt that Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian was the best part of the underperforming Solo: A Star Wars Story, but he’s still not the original smooth-talking space gambler.
No, that honor belongs to the one and only Billy Dee Williams, who originated the role in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back and then blew up the Death Star in 1983’s Return of the Jedi. For Star Wars faithful, he’ll always be Lando, and now, it seems, he’ll be donning the iconic cape once again in Star Wars: Episode IX, the next installment from Lucasfilm.
Hollywood Reporter… uh, reports:
Chatter about Williams joining the production, which is set to begin later this summer, increased in recent days when the actor bowed out of an upcoming sci-fi and pop culture convention citing a conflict with a movie schedule. Sources confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Williams will indeed be returning to the Star Wars film franchise.
Williams has in recent years returned to the role that fuels his appearances on the convention circuit, voicing Calrissian in various cartoon series and video games.
While notoriously hard-to-please Star Wars fans are generally happy about this news, many are worried that Lando will suffer the same fate as his old pal Han.
https://twitter.com/ThatGuy3002/status/1016475008149975042
Ill take any bets on cause of death for Lando. My bet 50 creds Lando dies by Sarlacc.
— NaderT. (@tigerkaya) July 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/Darth_Hound/status/1016659158341488640
Episode IX, set to open December 20, 2019, is being directed by J.J. Abrams and will star Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver… and this guy.