Billy Dee Williams will play Lando Calrissian in Star Wars Episode IX

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Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Tue, 07/10/2018 - 09:30

From The Hollywood Reporter:

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 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 for the first time since 1983’s Return of the Jedi. The Lando Calrissian character made his suave debut in 1980's Empire Strikes Back.

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 is set to open Dec. 20, 2019.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Commentary: I really need this to be true!!! Lando Calrissan has always been one of my favorite STAR WARS characters, and it just makes sense for him to appear in the sequels. The death of Carrie Fisher seems like it would leave a large gap in Episode IX, since episode VII featured Han Solo so heavily (before killing him) and episode VIII featured Luke Skywalker so heavily (before killing him...though at least Luke can come back as a force ghost). Donald Glover was great as Lando in SOLO, but there is no one quite like Billy Dee Willaims! I can't wait to see him back in STAR WARS. I just hope they avoid the stereotype, and he doesn't end up being Finn's dad or something like that.

I am totally stealing this from my friend, Gino Gotz, but when will we get Billy Dee Williams back to play Two-Face? Tim Burton and DC has owed us that for 29 years now!