Donald Glover is officially a young Lando Calrissian!
Lucasfilm announced today that Donald Glover, an acclaimed actor, award-winning writer, and Grammy-nominated artist, will be playing the part of Lando Calrissian in the still-untitled Han Solo Star Wars film, helmed by directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Glover will join Alden Ehrenreich — previously cast as Han Solo — in bringing two iconic Star Wars characters back to the big screen, but at a time in their lives previously unexplored. This new film depicts Lando in his formative years as a scoundrel on the rise in the galaxy’s underworld — years before the events involving Han, Leia, and Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and his rise to Rebel hero in Return of the Jedi.
“We’re so lucky to have an artist as talented as Donald join us,” said Lord and Miller. “These are big shoes to fill, and an even bigger cape, and this one fits him perfectly, which will save us money on alterations. Also, we’d like to publicly apologize to Donald for ruining Comic-Con for him forever.”
Glover is best known for creating and starring in the critically acclaimed FX series Atlanta (which had the highest premiere numbers for any basic cable comedy show since 2013), as well as for starring in four seasons of the show Community, and for his Grammy-nominated album Because the Internet, performed under the name Childish Gambino. In addition, Glover appeared in the Academy Award-nominated The Martian, and will be seen in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The untitled Han Solo movie is set for release in 2018.
Garris first appeared in A.C. Crispin’s novel The Paradise Snare, (check out that beautiful Drew Struzan cover art above)," started Sciretta. "The character was a bounty hunter-turned smuggler who raised the orphaned Han Solo as part of a group of children he used in confidence tricks and thefts, based aboard the decommissioned troopship Trader’s Luck in orbit over Corellia. Shrike rescued the young Han Solo from the streets, raised him, trained him, and beat him profusely when aggravated.”
KK has hired incredibly talented people for this film. Phil Lord and Chris Miller wrote and/directed Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 1 & 2, The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Last Man On Earth, Son of Zorn and more.
Lawrence Kasdan, wrote the screenplay for The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Force Awakens and the Big Chill and more. Bradford Young is an acclaimed cinematographer that should bring a gorgeous look to the film.
Donald Glover is amazing, as is Emilia Clarke. Woody is always a fun watch and by all accounts, Alden Ehrenreich is a star in waiting.
The bottom line is that it sure looks good on paper. [Reply]
The Star Wars Han Solo movie is officially underway.
Co-director Christopher Miller took to Twitter to reveal the following photo which features the working title of the Han Solo movie to be "Red Cup," a reference to both the plastic red cups and the company that creates them, Solo.
Miller also included "Han First Shot," an obvious reference to Han Solo having shot Greedo first and its ensuing controversy when George Lucas changed things.
Details are slim regarding the Han Solo movie, but it is known the movie will be a prequel, prior to Episode IV - A New Hope, featuring Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo, Donald Glover as a young Lando Calrissian, and it's been said Woody Harrelson will play a mentor role, with Emilia Clarke also cast as the female lead.
The untitled Han Solo movie has a May 25, 2018 release also directed by Phil Lord. [Reply]
Billy Dee Williams on Secret 'Star Wars' Lunch With Donald Glover
"I just never thought of anybody else being Lando; I just see myself as Lando," the legendary actor told THR. The actor was recently spotted having lunch in Los Feliz with young Han Solo star Donald Glover, who is taking over the role Lando Calrissian in the film, which also stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo. Here's what Williams told Heat Vision about meeting Glover and the character that has been "very much a part of my life for 30 years."
You recently had lunch with Donald Glover. What'd you talk about?
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. 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. So, we just sat and talked, and I didn’t want to impose on anything he wanted to do — he’s got his own ideas, I would imagine. I know he has his own ideas. He’s a very talented young man. In fact, I was listening to some of his music [Childish Gambino, Glover’s musical alter-ego] and it’s pretty good stuff.
What type of ideas was he proposing?
Not to any great extent, I think he basically just wanted to see me, meet me, get to know me a little bit and probably figure out a way to use me in developing his character.
He had recently said that he wasn’t “as cool” as you. Did you give him any pointers on being cool?
Well, nobody’s as cool as me. (Laughs.) That’s a tough way to go. No, I’m only joking. 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.
You had also recently said that the Star Wars producers should leave the character of Lando alone. Did you change your mind after speaking with Glover?
I don’t know. To me, I guess what it is that I identify so much with Lando. I mean, Lando has been very much a part of my life for over 30 years. When I go out and do conventions and stuff like that, even though people know me from all the other things that I’ve done, certainly [Lando] takes precedence. I just never thought of anybody else being Lando. I just see myself as Lando.
Is that hard, saying goodbye to a character or watching him take on a life after you?
Well, eventually something else has to happen with it. But I’m not saying goodbye to that character. It’s still very much a part of my life. I created that character.
Have you seen any of the recent Star Wars films that have come out?
I saw [The Force Awakens] and it was really good. I really enjoyed it, thoroughly.
Are you going to be making a cameo in the upcoming Han Solo stand-alone film?
I don’t know. It depends if they ask me to. I wouldn’t mind doing it.
Would you like to do it?
If they asked me, I wouldn’t say no.
Have you talked to Harrison Ford about his thoughts on watching his character played by someone else?
Yeah, this one is about how we established our relationship and the question of the Millennium Falcon. I have not spoken with him — he’s too busy. [Reply]
