UPDATE! Young Lando Calrissian Being Possibly Cast for Han Solo Movie. Donald Glover a Potential Candidate?
Umberto Gonzales, formerly known from Latino Review and currently of the Heroic Hollywood, reported exclusively for The Wrap that Lucasfilm is casting the young Lando Calrissian for the Han Solo standalone movie.
Originally portrayed by Billy Dee Williams in The Empire Strikes Back and later in The Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: Rebels, Lando Calrissian has a past with Han Solo not the least of which includes Millennium Falcon. It was always possible that we will see people from Han Solo’s checkered past in the film and now it seems we have the confirmation.
There is currently no information about possible candidates for the role. While playing Lando in The Empire Strikes Back, Billy Dee Williams was 43 and if he played younger like Harrison Ford, that means Lando is about ten years older than Han Solo. So, we might be looking at actors in their mid-thirties.
One thing is for certain – he has to be smooth and charming and have great chemistry with Alden Ehrenreich who was confirmed earlier this month at Star Wars Celebration to be our new Han Solo. Who would you like to see in the role of young Lando Calrissian.
The Han Solo standalone film was written by Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jon and it will be directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord.
The movie will go in the production sometime in January, 2017 and is scheduled for release on May 25th, 2018.
UPDATE!
Devin Faraci from Birth.Movies.Death. also shared some info on which actor might play Lando in the Solo spin-off movie:
Donald Glover is the first choice for Young Lando.
Will he do it? I’m not even sure there’s an offer out there, but at Star Wars Celebration this year directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller told a story about hiring Alden Ehrenreich to play Han Solo – they saw hundreds, if not thousands, of young men, but in the end they went with Ehrenreich, who was the first actor they saw and their first choice. So while the directors may still be meeting with actors, it isn’t out of the range of possibility that their first choice is who they will end up with (if Glover wants the part. I’m not 100% sure I see him taking a role like this).
Glover seems like a nice fit. He is most famous with his TV appearances, but is also no stranger to big feature films. He played both comedic and serious roles and he surely will do a nice job.
What do you think? Do you think Glover is a good candidate for young Lando?
Staff member, comic and book reviewer. Cheers for the Light Side, but would drink with Grand Admirals.
…….Will Smith?
get out
Hey, I was suggesting, that’s all.
Will Smith is probably older now than when Billy Dee debuted as Lando.
Then who can be another candidate: Chadwick Boseman?
I don’t know who that is. I’d go with an unknown or relatively unknown actor.
“Let’s go save the Galaxy.”
With who?
Idk..a band of unlikely heroes or somethin..
OK OK.
Welcome to Bespin *punches alien in the face*
NICE!
Win.
Befpin*
He’s already older than BDW was in Empire. I don’t see how that qualifies as a “young” Lando.
I expected Lando to pop up somewhere in this movie, good to see they’re looking around to casting him now too. I wonder if his role will just be losing a card game, or popping up several times.
Hopefully the latter. 🙂
Billy Dee for episode VIII
YES!! Billy Dee or we riot! lol
Make sense. I’m on record that of all possible spinoffs, a young han solo film is pretty low on my list, i’d much rather see more rogue one type movies that have new characters… that said… since a Han Solo movie is the direction they chose to go in I think it would be a huge missed opportunity to not have lando in it. Han meeting chewie, han winning the falcon, and Han making the kessel run are all almost garunteed for this movie.
Although that’s possible, I think that is too much for one film, if they want to do it right.
Also, I remember reading somewhere (could be on this site) that Lawrence Kasdan said they would avoid those ‘obvious’ choices and make it more of a standalone movie, “A day in the life of Han Solo” if you know what I mean.
I hope so. Those things are better left unexplained. I’m all for Lando appearing, though.
I really hope you are right! I wouldn’t mind seeing Han meet chewie, but things like the kessel run are fun because everyone has their own version of that in their head and it adds a lot to the mystery of the character. If they decide to do the “obvious” character moments then they must work really hard not to turn a beloved moment into a generic action setpeice, which is my fear.
The problem with the Kessel run is that parsecs measure distance. So basically Han Solo took a short cut. And just thinking about Fast Wars: Tokyo Space Drift makes my midichlorians go uncomfortably numb..
What I do want to see is the reason why Solo is the self centered dude when we first meet him in ANH. That way him helping Luke blowing up the Death Star makes an even bigger impact.
You should read the explanation how Han Solo used black hole to shave not just time but also distance to achieve Kessel Run in 12 parsecs,
http://scifi.about.com/od/starwarsglossaryandfaq/a/Star-Wars-Faq_Why-Did-Han-Solo-Say-He-Made-The-Kessel-Run-In-12-Parsecs.htm
I want to see the infamous sabaac game. Other than that I hope this movie is an all new adventure we don’t know about.
I will admit that it would It be very interesting. Almost like an Oceans movie or casino royal type scene in a star wars film. Tricky to do right and still feel “star wars”, but if done well it could be awesome. If nothing else I would love it just to FINALLY get a commercially released deck of sabac cards with canon rules. 😉
They aren’t going to explain every bit of him, probably.
All those things guaranteed are the reason why this movie is a bad idea in my opinion.
Not only is it predictable, but these are legends that I’d like left in my imagination.
Although not a prequel hater per se, I felt that the mystery of the Jedi, the history of Boba Fett and the Clone Wars were all somewhat ruined by featuring in the prequels in the manner that they did.
Have to agree – it’s that gut level dread that there is just no way they will be able to stop themselves from cramming the film full of explanation for every throwaway line about Han’s past.
Kasdan wouldn’t do that. He even said they won’t.
The only quote I remember from him about the content of this film was something along the lines of “you’ll find out how he gets to be who we meet in the cantina”. I am of course prepared to be wrong. I WANT to be wrong about this movie.
““I think it won’t be the thing you’re worried about. It will not be like here is where he was born and this is how he was raised. I think what it will be is what was he like ten years earlier, ya know maybe a little earlier you’ll get a glimpse but… what formed the person we meet in the cantina? It is not so much about his specific history. It is about what makes a person like that? He’s not full formed in the cantina! Kurosawa once said ‘the heroes are the ones that are still changing and the villains are locked and petrified into what they are’ and Harrison embodies in Force Awakens someone that’s still not settled on who he is.”
http://www.slashfilm.com/han-solo-movie-lawrence-kasdan-says-dont-be-worried/
Missed the first half of that quote – thx.
No prob!
I agree.
lol, Boyega would have been a perfect Lando in hindsight lmao
“Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of….irony” -Morpheus, ‘The Matrix’ (1999)
No, anything but that! That could be on Anno level!
Oh, got it:
Nate Parker – he was in Red Tails (eek, bear with me, I know), but he might get an Oscar nomination when his film, ‘The Birth of a Nation’ comes out. Got ridiculously amazing reviews at Sundance.
What about Chadwick Boseman?
Uh.. he doesn’t look like Billy Dee Williams AT ALL. Plus, he’s way too old. He turns 40 in just a couple months. Not a good choice…
Great choice
Nate Parker? I think he looks more like Mike Tyson (with less bulk) than he does Billy Dee Williams. Plus, he’ll turn 37 this year. A little too old to be playing a young Lando…
Edit: I googled some pictures of Nate Parker and found some of him with a mustache. Amazing how different it makes him look. I can see a resemblance to BDW. Nose is a little more broad than BDW I think, and the face a little more long and square, but there is a similarity. He’s a couple inches shorter than BDW was, but maybe….
Donald Glover.
This ^
Yes
Can we have old Lando back first please?
Holding out hope Rian Johnson pulls through and gets Billy Dee in ep8
that NEEDS to happen, for real man. I could go another episode with no Luke if we gotten Lando instead to work with the new cast. he’s such a great character and Billy Dee is a legend in his own right.
Yeah I’m maintaining hope for it too.
If the Han’s funeral rumors are true, wouldn’t be surprised if he makes a brief appearance. But Billy Dee isn’t really in action shape right now, so it’d be a small role if anything.
Cast Leslie Jones.
Can you do the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs? HELL NO!
The power of lando compels you!
I don’t know if this is a spice trader thing, or a smuggler thing, but I’m mad as hell!!
Please no.
This deal is getting worse all the time.
Well, sometimes..
Pray they don’t alter it any further.
How so? If Donald Glover gets cast then it would be a must see for me.
I just hope they use make-up to make the actors for both Han and Lando look a lot more like the characters. Same for any other returning characters.
Agreed. I mean, Chewie looks waaay too Finnish these days…
I hope they use prosthetics and CGI to completely replace everyone’s heads. I know this is totally possible because Antman had a marginally convincing two or three shots of de-aged Michael Douglas.
That would be bad,
Nah. Could turn out good if done well.
No, it’s not needed. It would be distracting. We are smart people, we don’t need them to look exactly alike.
I believe they will.
“the movie will go into production in January 2017 and be released on may 25, 2017.” That’s one quick production schedule, btw. 😉
Released in 2018
Billy Dee Williams is going to audition for the role.
It will be motion capture.
JOHN! JOHN! JOHN!
DONALD GLOVER BABY
Before that happens…… why cant we get the real Lando back in ep8 and 9 first? After all , besides the fact that he was one of the main damn characters in episode 5 and 6 . He was a damn General in the alliance…He should have been in Episode 7. If they just cameo him at Hans Funeral in Episode 8 that is going to be BS! I would rather them have said that he was on the New Republic planet when it blew up rather than see them disrespect the character AND Billy Dee with some stupid assed cameo…If they weren’t going to use him in the new trilogy, The scene where Han Watches the New Republic’s planet get destroyed, they could have just shown Han give a saddened blank stare and mutter “……Lando”. And that’s all they had to do and there would be no more fuss…He was dead and that was that…. using him like he was in one of his old Colt45 commercials, smiles and says a line and boom he is out…would be pathetic and disrespectful…Even if he shows up to Hans Funeral and does the Eulogy….that would still be BS. They would bring friggin Admiral Ackbar back but not Lando? HAHA. I think having Lando in the stand alone Han movie would make his absensce in the new trilogy even more dumb and confusing.
TL;DR
Watch BDW in dancing with the stars then come back here and tell me if you think he’s fit to do any acting in a movie other than making a cameo
I don’t think one has anything to do with the other
Chris MILLER and Phil Lord.
Donald Glover or nobody. It’s such a perfect casting. That would make me instantly want to see this movie.
You’re right.
Actually – you’re right, it definitely would add something interesting to see other than trepidation people have with re-casting Han.
John Boyega with an Afro wig would be perfect!
Alternatively, what’s Emmanuel Lewis up to lately?
Cast Samuel L. Jackson, he could use a franchise.
Zing!
LANDO. This is all the news I needed to finally get me interested in the Han Solo movie.
Jerrod Carmichael.
Donald glover is the perfect option but i wouldn’t mind Anthony mackie
I like the Anthony Mackie idea
Anthony Mackie? I don’t think he resembles Lando much at all, plus he’ll be 38 years old next month. That’s almost as old as BDW was in ESB. He’s too old to play a young Lando. Plus, I don’t know if he can pull of the smooth, coolness factor that BDW brought to the part…
I’m just not sure of that guy. Also, if you’re recasting Lando, why don’t you use Billy dee Williams in the sequels?
Because JJ Abrams only cared about Han Solo it seems, look how he treated Luke…Unimaginable
Right, because what an already 2+ hour movie needs is MORE characters.
Nobody said it’s easy, it takes a real filmmaker, not a hack who owes everything to Spielberg. If you think there are too many characters, they could have easily removed Poe and Finn, completely useless.
Let’s remove Chewbacca and C3PO from the OT while you’re at it.
(actually, remove them from the PT, please, lol)
Right, because what we need is to pin the future of the franchise on some lead actors in their 60s and 70s.
It would have been perfectly fine to me to have a movie that is only about Luke, none of the new characters are likeable or remotely interesting.
I don’t mind passing the baton to a younger generation but the film should have been built around Luke. He would be just like Obi-wan in ANH.
And instead they’re building the trilogy around him which is even better. Look, TFA was way far from perfect but I definitely think it’s handling of Luke was a smart move. It has built him way up for VIII and I suspect he’s going to be a lot more than just an Obi-Wan.
They aren’t building anything, they’re using Luke as a bait to lure nostalgic lost souls. The trailer was a shameless false advertisement about Luke’s presence in the movei, had they been honest , they would have lost a lot of viewers. They’ll use the same cliffhanger trick for each new movie. Each time you’ll tell yourself this one is the good one, that’s also the reason they have a new director for each film, to arose false hope. Because Bob Iger wants to make SW movies forever LOL
I have to agree with this statement. Abrams’ film was already chock-full enough of nostalgic fan service – there just wasn’t any left over room for Lando. Lando was one of my favorite characters from the OT and I would have liked to have seen him again in Force Awakens – but I think it would have just felt way too forced. “Hey kids, look, we’re getting the whole band back together – Han’s here and Leia’s here and Luke’s here (barely) and Chewie’s here and C-3PO’s here and R2-D2’s here and Admiral Ackbar’s here and Nien Numb’s here and Darth Vader’s burnt out helmet is here! Feeling like a kid again yet?! But wait, there’s more! Also Lando’s here and Mon Mothma’s here and Wicket’s here and Lobot’s here and the one-armed Wampa’s here and IG-88’s here and the fat Rancor Keeper’s here…” The line has to be drawn somewhere. All that being said, I do REALLY hope that we get to see Lando again in Ep. 8 and/or 9, but in a logical, organic way. Not forced.
let’s hope it’s the big secret behind episode VIII. Lando’s return.
One has nothing to do with the other.
Same character?
What does recasting Lando in a prequel have to do with using Williams in the sequel? They are unrelated. You can do one and not the other
I’m saying you can’t. How can you prevent the original actor from reprising the role just as all the other main actors have done and talk about reusing the character with a different actor, although much earlier? I say that if they recast lando, they should also include Williams in the sequels.
Yes, you totally can. How? Easy: you just do it.
And it’s not about “preventing”. It’s telling the story of Episode 8 and 9 and if Lando doesn’t fit in that, that’s life.
They recast all of Star Trek’s cast and only used Nimoy. Where was Shatner? The two ideas are not connected at all.
I do hope Lando somehow fits into 8 and/or 9 though. Would love to see that old rascal again. Just not the Dancing with the Stars Billy Dee. The REAL Billy Dee. Colt 45 Billy Dee!
I would like to see him again, but if not, I won’t be upset.
They tried to get shatner back, but he didn’t want to come back. I recall that Williams stated he would be open to return to play Lando. Also, doesn’t it sound strange that they could get back even Ackbar’s character, and that they wanted Wedge back (although he didn’t want to be involved), but Lando, no, let’s just ignore him. Although we all want to see him again. With Billy Dee Williams. Can’t you understand what I mean? it’s simply an unfair treatment for the guy who brought Lando to life in the first place.
I thought it was they didn’t have a place for Shatner in the story even though he wanted to come back. Hmm.
No, b/c Ackbar is a part of the Rebels, as is Wedge. Lando joined at the very end, probably out of obligation to Han and stuff. It makes more sense that he would leave and go his own way.
ALSO, it’s a testament to how important he is that they wouldn’t want him back JUST to be a background character, like Ackbar was and Wedge was likely to be. If you bring Lando back, he needs something to do.
I don’t think it’s unfair because the story comes first.
You’re wrong. Forcing a part in just because you’re butt hurt that they could possibly not have him in the sequel trilogy, would be worse than Disney making a Han Solo movie because it’s the quickest way to make another half billion. Force too many people from the OT in the ST, is just plain stupid.
You need to re-read the discussion again, bub. I am saying you can easily not have Lando in Ep 8 and have him the prequel. The other guy is saying the opposite.
Prevent? What are you going on about? If the Lando character doesn’t fit into the story that the Sequels are telling, then he shouldn’t be in them. It’s rather simple. Would you rather have him shoehorned in as fan service? Having an actor cast as a younger Lando for a Han Solo movie has absolutely nothing to do with an older Lando appearing in episodes 8 or 9.
Donald Glover’s performance in The Martian was miserable. The guy can’t act.
nah… you’re just a poor judge of talent.
Better than yours. The guy isn’t even a actor, he’s a rapper and does stand up comedy. I guess that all black actors in Disney movies have to be that trope, comedic black, why not cast Chris Tucker?
Community.
The only time I saw him was in The Martian and it was awful, he stuck out like a sore thumb.
I agree that I wasn’t too impressed with what he did in “The Martian,” but I loved him on the tv show “Community.” He’s definitely good at comedy, but drama – I don’t know if I’m convinced…
Community.
He’s an actor. He was fantastic in Community. You’re embarrassing yourself.
If he’s good there, he should stay there. I think TV series and films are completely different.
Very strange opinion you have there.
The Han Solo spin off will most likely be an Indiana Jones in Space. Rumors say that Kasdan doesn’t even know they are two different characters.
“Rumors say.” Who are you, Donald Trump? Cite your bullshit sources.
It’s a joke but sadly, it’s probably true. Kasdan thinks Star Wars is a comedic movie.
Kasdan wrote The Empire Strikes Back, which is both the funniest Star Wars movie and the darkest. Hate to break it to you, but there’s this thing called “tone” that can vary throughout a film.
Kasdan didn’t write ESB, George Lucas wrote ESB. Kasdan’s contribution is little to nothing in this movie. George being a nice guy never shamed him in public for trying to take credit for the movie. He was very lucky to be allowed to work with Lucas on Indiana Jones and SW, thanks to his buddy Spielberg.
Such a great writer would certainly could have come up with just one decent script since 1980!
There’s no winning with you, bud. If you’re so determined to hate everything about these new movies, why don’t you just get out of here? It’s clearly not the right place for you.
Block him. I did. It’s wonderful.
Finally got around to blocking PlatinumStar as well. The guy is a complete waste. The sheer amount of time the guy spends “discussing” movies he claims to not like and the staggering amount of unsubstantiated b.s. he comes up with suggests either a seriously ignorant or dangerously deluded personality. Done. And done.
It makes sense to have Lando in the Han Solo movie. How else is Han going to get the Millennium Falcon. I can see Donald Glover or Michael B. Jordan play Lando.
I think Michael B Jordan is too big of an actor to play Lando though. Star Wars never really casts well known actors for their roles unless you count Bea Arthur in the holiday special.
Unless you count Ewen McGregger, Natalie Portman, Samuel Jackson, or Christopher Lee
Or Liam Neeson, or Alec Guiness, or Max von Sydow…
Ya and notice how the prequels sucked. Granted, McGregger, Jackson, and Neeson were hardly the problem with those films, but still… I prefer unknowns
Donald Glover? Sure.
Evidence: And this was a poorly done comedic take on Lando
All I can see is the lack of charisma
I could totally see Donald Glover playing Lando. He’s got a funny charm to him
I’m down for that.
Lando needs a deep smooth voice….And a deep smooth demeanor. Not Donald Glover.
What if he tries one?
Not to mention Glover is a racist asshat who I quote thinks “rape is hilarious”. I’m not supporting a movie that he’s in PERIOD.
k, bye
And a deep, smooth Colt 45. Works every time.
Idris Elba – just because he gets nominated for everything.
Donald Glover was the first name that came to mind. Glad they are looking into it.
The writer is Kasdan.
It better be Leslie Jones, she obviously shares Lando’s obsession with women. Also, they both got a mustache!
But, she’s 2 or 3 inches taller than BDW was. B!tch is huge. And that crazy spiked up hair just makes her look taller…
btw…I know you’re joking…
T’was a joke. If Leslie becomes Lando I’d hang myself.
And she’d probably still scream at your corpse…
“WHAT’S THE MATTER, A STRONG BLACK WOMAN CAN’T PLAY LANDO CALRISSIAN?! I’LL SHOW YOU WHO’S LANDO, B!TCH!”
I feel a little conflicted by this – if Glover actually ends up being cast as young Lando that is. For the most part, I like Glover. Thought he was great on the tv show “Community.” The only other thing I saw him in was the movie “The Martian.” Thought he did ok there, not great. Didn’t blow me away. I just don’t know if I can see him as a young Lando. Billy Dee Williams defined the character with his charm, coolness, and smooth talking ways. He was a rascal. Glover gives off more of a punk vibe. I’m not saying he IS a punk, it’s just more of the vibe he gives off – not coolness so much. It seems like if he got the part, he’d have to do a Billy Dee “impression” instead of being more his natural self. He might be talented enough to pull it off, but it might not work at all. As far as physicality goes, Glover is a pretty skinny guy. BDW was more medium build, and Glover is very slight. Glover I think is also a little shorter than BDW was. When it comes to facial features, I think there’s only a slight resemblance – not a strong one. I don’t know, this might work, but it could be a disaster…
https://vimeo.com/178941014