Posted on 07/09/2018 5:16:07 PM PDT by EdnaMode
Billy Dee Williams is returning to a galaxy far, far away.
The actor, who famously played the galactic gambler Lando Calrissian, will reprise the role for Star Wars: Episode IX, the next Star Wars installment from Lucasfilm.
Chatter about Williams joining the production, which begins 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 confirm to The Hollywood Reporter that Williams will indeed be returning to the Star Wars big screen for the first time since 1983’s Return of the Jedi. The character made his suave debut in Empire Strikes Back.
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.
The character is one of the more popular personages in the Star Wars universe and appeared in a major way in this year’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. Donald Glover slipped on the cape to play a younger Calrissian.
Episode IX is being directed by J.J. Abrams and will reunite Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver, among others. Keri Russell is one of the new additions to the cast. The film opens Dec. 20, 2019.
In the middle of the song, the band breaks in to a Billy Jean vamp where Frank announces-
This is supposed to be the part where I . . . name people who are not . . . the illegitimate son of Michael Jackson. . .
Frank includes in that list....none of them than Lando Calrissian.
I agree that the original Trillogy was enough for me. However, to this day, I cannot hear Lando's name without singing Frank's song to myself, thus splicing Zappa into Star Wars in an odd, twisted way.
Wow. I thought he died years ago. Thought they would do computer graphics for him. Good to know he’s still kicking.
With Darth Vader zinging off into space in that fighter into oblivion that should have ended it - but no, he comes back and says “Luke, I am your father” - give me a break. The Empire was done, vanquished, over, stick a fork in it.
If you have seen one Starwars movie you have seen them all.
That’s great that you met him. :D
They had to kill off Han Solo because BDW couldn’t pronounce his name properly. Han (like Hawn or Hans) became Han (like ham).
Too bad he couldn’t be Lando in the last movie.
His young replacement was too dark and otherwise nothing like him, really. Could not really see him as ol Lando.
Star Wars the senior years?
Generally I agree.
While I keep seeing them, I’d be OK never having Endless SW, Jurassic Park, Star Trek, or “superhero” movies ever again.
Were you born a “poor black child”?
The weirdest part was when Carrie Fisher suddenly pronounced it the way Lando did when she shared scenes with him.
I am THE Jerk!
He’ll always be Gale Sayers in “Brian’s Song” to me.
Where are the SJW’s?
Can’t they see?....he has been appropiating the Armenian culture with his last name!
Either way...SW is dead. Keeps going cause memory RNA lasts for a long time.
Now, THAT was some cinema!
They should get Williams and Jimmy Caan to do a sequel to “Brian’s Song.”
Hey why dont they make his character more diverse and have him a female to male transgender!!!
I bet he makes more money in the new film then in the old by a huge margin. Good for more Star Wars convention appearances too and Colt 45 ads.
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