The newer Star Wars films have been promising a better return of the characters that we love but also new characters to enjoy or hate. Billy Dee Williams, the actor who 
played Lando in the previous films was recently portrayed by Donald Glover in the Solo film. However, there have been speculations about his return in the ninth installment. When it was confirmed that he was indeed coming back for the original role, the fans of the universe grew happy and wanted to know exactly the purpose of him coming back. Who is Williams and why was his character, Lando, so popular to the audience?
“Lando Calrissian is a smug gambler, smuggler, and overall purveyor of ill-gotten gains. He had a slim figure, and a million-dollar smile and can go toe-to-toe with Han Solo” (Smith). The character was loved by many and became a very popular one since the 80’s. After confirming his role as Lando, the internet roared in happiness since that’s the role they wanted him to return as. He will reprise his role in the next Star Wars film.
Billy Dee Williams was born in 1937 in New York, New York and appeared on Broadway as a child which eventually grew into a passion in the 1950’s. He began doing more screen work and received a nomination for “Brian’s Song” and became an international heartthrob to many due to Star Wars.
In 1980, his fame took a turn for the best “when he starred as Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back, the sequel to George Lucas’ trailblazing production Star Wars, a sci-fi film regarded as a cinematic cornerstone that has spawned one of the most successful screen franchises of all time” (Billy Dee).
Lando Calrissian lost the beloved Millennium Falcon to Han Solo and became the administrator of Cloud City, but soon got drawn out of that ro
le to help fight against the Empire. His quick wit was useful and helped the Alliance destroy the second Death Star and made him into a galactic hero (Lando). He’s not just a suave character that people love, but also has good character development throughout into becoming a hero for the galaxy. So, its no wonder he became so popular, not with just the ladies, but with fans of the universe equally.
All in all, it would be interesting to see what Billy Dee Williams will be doing as Lando back in the Star Wars films, but we won’t be able to know exactly his purpose back until 2019. “…fans still hold a soft spot for Williams who really made the role his own. It’s why Star Wars brass is bringing the original “G” back to the franchise” (Smith).
Wilson, Wendy. “Billy Dee Williams Will Reprise the Role of Lando Calrissian in the next ‘Star Wars’ Film.” TheGrio, TheGrio, 11 July 2018, thegrio.com/2018/07/11/billy-dee-williams-reprise-role-lando-calrissian-next-star-wars-film/.
Kit, Borys. “’Star Wars’: Billy Dee Williams Reprising Role as Lando Calrissian.” The Hollywood Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Aug. 2018, www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-billy-dee-williams-returning-as-lando-calrissian-xi-1125818.
Staff, Bio. “Billy Dee Williams.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 7 Dec. 2017, www.biography.com/people/billy-dee-williams-092716.
“Lando Calrissian.” StarWars.com, www.starwars.com/databank/lando-calrissian.
