Summary

• Lando Calrissian is getting his own spinoff movie, showcasing his strategic nature and istrative connections that made him integral in the original Star Wars trilogy.
• Donald Glover's performance as Lando in Solo was highly praised, leading to speculation of a spinoff. The potential to explore diverse live-action prequels and spinoffs in the Star Wars universe has been opened up.
• The Lando project was initially planned as a Disney+ streaming show but has since been shifted to a theatrical movie.

Solo: A Star Wars Story failed to create massive waves within the Rebel Alliance's fleet in an attack on the Death Star II. With his strategic nature and istrative connections, Lando proved to be quite integral.

It was natural that when Han Solo got his standalone prequel, Lando received his fair share of screen time. Despite the Solo spinoff bombing at the box office, audiences still praised Donald Glover's take on Lando. Glover's performance was singled out as one of Solo's highlights, leading to speculation of a spinoff movie or series. Since The Mandalorian, Star Wars has opened up the potential to explore diverse live-action prequels and spinoffs following characters, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, and Ahsoka. With a major star playing the role of a morally ambiguous scoundrel, Lando offers the chance to explore uncharted waters.

The Latest News On Lando

The TV Show Concept is Now a Movie

Following years of silence on the project, it was confirmed that Lucasfilm shifted Lando from a Disney+ streaming series to a movie slated to release theatrically.

Most recently, the former canceled Rangers of the New Republic series being another example of a Star Wars TV show losing steam in the developmental stage. It's still left to be seen if the Lando movie can now make its way out of development, or if it will also crumble in this early stage.

When Was Lando Confirmed?

Disney Confirmed The Project In 2020 & Confirmed Its Transformation In 2023

A live-action Lando series was confirmed in December 2020 along with many other Star Wars titles. These potential Star Wars movies and TV shows were announced by Kathleen Kennedy at The Walt Disney Company’s Investor Day event, alongside projects such as the now-canceled Rangers of the New Republic TV show and the successful Ahsoka series. In September 2023, however, Lucasfilm revealed a change in plans for the project. Initially a Disney+ TV show, Lando has since been shifted to a movie intended for theatrical release.

Lando Cast Details

Audiences Are Still Guessing Who Could Appear

While Donald Glover is expected to reprise his role as Lando Calrissian, original Lando actor Billy Dee Williams should also make an appearance. Given the movie's unknown placement in the Star Wars timeline, the situation is uncertain for many of Glover’s co-stars from Solo: A Star Wars Story. Emilia Clarke, who played the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate leader Qi’ra, revealed in a 2021 Happy Sad Confused podcast episode that she has not been ed yet to appear in any Lando-related project. Alden Ehrenreich reprising the role of Han Solo would seem inevitable, but details will remain sparse for some time.

Even with Glover set to star as a young Lando, the possibility for other familiar Star Wars faces to appear cannot be completely discounted. Should portions of the movie focus on the older Lando seen in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, then characters of the Star Wars sequel trilogy could make small appearances. This seems rather unlikely, but it's still certainly an option, especially for characters Lando has connected quite deeply with.

Who Are The Creators Of Lando?

Donald Glover Is The Most Heavily Involved

In the 2020 Investors Day announcement, Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that Justin Simien would be developing the story for a Lando Disney+ series and serving as its creator. A change was made in May 2023, shortly before the WGA strike, with Simien unknowingly replaced on Lando by Glover and his brother, Stephen, who assumed writing duties. The duo will serve as co-creators of the project as Lando transitions to the feature film format.

Where Lando Could Fit In The Star Wars Timeline?

With Star Wars Branching Out To Many Different Eras, Lando Could Take Place At Any Point

With Glover on board, the implication is clear that Lando is likely to serve as another prequel to the original trilogy. The Lando movie, however, could also be a sequel to Solo: A Star Wars Story, which introduced a younger Lando Calrissian as a gambler who is proficient at winning through dishonorable means. Given that Lando’s betrayal at Cloud City also revealed his loyalty to its citizens, Lando might shed light on what fueled the character’s political journey. Andor fleshed out its protagonist’s political and rebellious origins well, leaving space for Lando’s ideological evolution to be similarly explored.

While Williams is past his prime, brief sequences of narration as an older Lando reflects on his youthful escapades would set the stage for Glover's adventure.

At the same time, if Williams s the cast, then Lando can also incorporate a post-The Rise of Skywalker timeline delving into the trials and tribulations of an aging Lando. As seen in Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett, Star Wars is willing to explore arcs around characters with eventful pasts. While Williams is past his prime, brief sequences of narration as an older Lando reflects on his youthful escapades would set the stage for Glover's adventure. Should that happen, the bulk of Lando's story will transpire during the Dark Times, with portions set after the sequel trilogy.