With director J.J. Abrams ready to begin production on Star Wars: Episode IX at the end of the month, we're likely to hear a lot of news about the Skywalker saga finale in the coming days. Late last week, Variety revealed that Americans star and frequent Abrams collaborator Keri Russell is in talks to join the cast, which already features talented young actors like Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver. However, there's a void of veteran leadership in the world of Star Wars at the moment, a void that has developed due to both storytelling and real world reasons. In terms of the former, Harrison Ford's Han Solo was killed by his own son in The Force Awakens, while Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker died saving the rebellion one final time.at the conclusion of The Last Jedi. On a more tragic note, Carrie Fisher's General Leia was supposed to take center stage in Episode IX, but the actress passed away in late 2016. Which leaves us with one question- who will lead our young heroes in the fight against the First Order?
Who else but Lando Calrissian?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, legendary actor Billy Dee Williams will be reprising his role as the galaxy's smoothest operator in Episode IX, marking his third appearance in the storied franchise after fighting alongside Luke and Han in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The nature of Williams' role in the next chapter in the saga is obviously unknown at this moment, but this will surely be one of the major selling points of this sequel for Disney and Lucasfilm. While Hamill, Ford, and Fisher were always assured a return to the saga they helped to create, Williams has been more of a question mark. Rumors later swirled that Lando would join forces with the Resistance in Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi, but that didn't come to fruition.
No matter what happened in the past, I'm thrilled to see Williams return to this iconic role. The Last Jedi ended on a note that left a pretty open-ended future for our heroes, so the possibilities for Lando are practically endless.
Star Wars: Episode IX opens on December 20, 2019. Look for more on the film as the start of production approaches.
Who else but Lando Calrissian?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, legendary actor Billy Dee Williams will be reprising his role as the galaxy's smoothest operator in Episode IX, marking his third appearance in the storied franchise after fighting alongside Luke and Han in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The nature of Williams' role in the next chapter in the saga is obviously unknown at this moment, but this will surely be one of the major selling points of this sequel for Disney and Lucasfilm. While Hamill, Ford, and Fisher were always assured a return to the saga they helped to create, Williams has been more of a question mark. Rumors later swirled that Lando would join forces with the Resistance in Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi, but that didn't come to fruition.
No matter what happened in the past, I'm thrilled to see Williams return to this iconic role. The Last Jedi ended on a note that left a pretty open-ended future for our heroes, so the possibilities for Lando are practically endless.
Star Wars: Episode IX opens on December 20, 2019. Look for more on the film as the start of production approaches.
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