Lando Calrissian will appear in the upcoming Han Solo film, but he’ll have a new face. It’s a prequel to the original “Star Wars” movies, so Billy Dee Williams is a little too old for the gig that he originated. However, he seems to approve of his replacement, Donald Glover.
Williams and the “Atlanta” star met for lunch recently, and Williams was pleased with Glover’s attitude and talent. “He’s a very delightful young man, I must say. We had a very nice lunch and we talked for a very long time and it was very easy,” Williams told the Hollywood Reporter. “He had questions about [Lando]. I guess he was doing what normal actors do, they just want to find out what direction they want to take so they gather their information.”
The veteran actor, who will next appear in “The LEGO Batman Movie,” noted that Glover’s personality makes him a particularly good choice for Lando. “Donald is eclectic, I think that’s really important particularly for the character of Lando. He is particularly eclectic in the way he approaches his art. When I talked to him I really got the sense of him being a worldly person.”
Billy Dee Williams has given Donald Glover his stamp of approval. Williams (left) is pictured on Dec. 14, 2015 in Hollywood, California, and Glover is pictured on Dec. 11, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. Photo: Getty Images
Williams went on to praise Glover not just for his acting abilities but also his musical skills. He raps under the stage name Childish Gambino. “He’s a very talented young man. In fact, I was listening to some of his music and it’s pretty good stuff,” he said.
Glover grew up as a big fan of William’s portrayal of Lando in the original “Star Wars” movies. “Lando’s a big deal. He’s the first toy I ever got,” Glover told Deadline last month. “It’s interesting, when you have something iconic in a range when people pay attention to it, it’s hard. You want to live up to the expectation, but you can only live up to your own.”
The Han Solo film is a big undertaking for the 33-year-old. The filming schedule even pushed back his TV show. After winning two Golden Globes, “Atlanta” won’t be back until 2018 to accommodate Glover’s movie commitments. It would be pretty difficult for the FX comedy to come back without him since he is the leading man, creator, writer, executive producer, director and executive music producer.
Still, it seems he’ll find time for music. Childish Gambino and rap trio Migos have dropped hints that they’ll be collaborating soon.
The untitled Han Solo film, which will star Alden Ehrenreich as the title character, is scheduled to hit theaters May 25, 2018.
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