Billy Dee Williams Reveals What It Would Take To Get Him to Return to Star Wars
In recent interviews, Billy Dee Williams has made it clear that while he believes that he is the definitive Lando Calrissian, the character’s future is in the hands of Donald Glover.
Williams, of course, originated the role of the intergalactic rogue in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back before returning for Return of the Jedi.
Photo: Lucasfilm
While Lando was noticeably absent from the first two films of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, he made a triumphant return for The Rise of Skywalker. By the end of the film, Lando was once again the captain of Millenium Falcon, setting off for parts unknown with Jannah and Chewbacca.
What It Would Take For Williams to Return
With Lando perhaps on the verge of another adventure, in an interview with Radio Times, Williams explained what it would take for him to return to Star Wars.
“Pay me a lot of money, and I’ll sell my soul,” he said.
Photo: Lucasfilm
With Donald Glover developing a new Lando project based on a younger version of the character, it may be unlikely that Lucasfilm will develop another Lando project at this time.
Williams, however, has no hard feelings.
Photo: Direct
“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,” Williams said of Glover taking over the Lando role. “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.”
“There’s Only One Lando Calrissian”
Although Williams has been laudatory toward Glover in recent interviews, he has also made it clear that he is “real” Lando.
“I had a nice little lunch with him. He’s a delightful young man. Extremely talented. But I don’t see him…I mean, when it comes to Lando Calrissian there’s only one Lando Calrissian. I created that character,” he said. “I told him to be charming – two words! That’s all I needed to tell him. That’s all I could think of.”
Photo: Lucasfilm
In an interview with GQ, Glover seemed to take Lando’s advice to heart.
“He’s right, Lando is charm incarnate,” Glover said in an interview with GQ. “He’s kind of a maverick, which I don’t think there’s a lot of anymore. It’s hard to be a smooth talker nowadays ’cause, where’s the line? But I think that’s also where the danger is. It’s like, how close can you get without tripping over it?”
Donald Glover and Billy Dee Williams at the premiere for SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY in Los Angeles May 10, 2018.
Whether it is Williams or Glover, it looks like Lando will play an important part in Star Wars’ future.
