In this unfolding saga of Star Wars Episode VII news, most of the headlines have been focused on issues like Luke, Leia and Han Solo returning to the franchise, or what kind of spinoff films we’ll see down the line. However, we know what hardcore Star Wars fans have been thinking all along: What’s up with Lando Calrissian?
With the recent word that original franchise stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are all set to make a (at least cameo) return in Episode VII, there have been rumblings about whether actor Billy Dee Williams might also make an appearance, as an older and wiser version of Lando the Baron Administrator from Cloud City. Today we have word from the actor himself on the matter.
Film Buff had a chance to speak with Billy Dee at the Monster Mania convention (of all places), where the actor confirmed that, “he has been asked, but hasn’t decided if he is going to do it or not yet.” BDW has certainly kept the character alive over the years, lending his voice to various Star Wars-inspired TV shows and video games; he was even set to return in the animated comedy Star Wars: Detours, which has since been put on hold as Disney re-organizes the animated portion of its LucasFilm acquisition.
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Billy Dee Williams is just one of those guys who never loses his iconic swagger. Whether pushing some Colt 45 on the masses, doing cameos on shows like Modern Family or blazing trails as a black Harvey Dent, BDW is just one of those three-name stars people like enjoy (see also: Neil Patrick Harris). Lando Calrissian has similarly become a pop-culture icon, thanks to people like Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane who has (either directly or indirectly) referenced the character in his animated works.
Star Wars fans woud on doubt like to see an appearance by Lando – not so long that it wears out its welcome, mind you – just long enough for us to feel the magic again. A lot of people point to the dark ending, the Han Solo/Leia romance or the Luke/Vader family drama as the reason Empire Strikes Back has become such a classic; but you an I know it was really the soul power of Billy Dee Williams!
Want to see Lando Calrissian return (at least for a cameo) in Episode VII?
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Star Wars Episode VII will be in theaters in 2015.
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Is that even a question? OF COURSE!
and PS, I can’t even fathom the word “cameo” for the original 3 cast mates. There’s no chance in hell they ‘just’ make cameos, that would be an insult to the OT, the fans and their characters. They will be loaded with screen time as much as the new characters will be.
As for Billy Dee, now there is someone who would make a cameo, although I’d like to see him play a slightly larger part too.
Great news, all surviving original trilogy characters should return in some capacity and that includes the millennium falcon and ‘the fettman’ – no matter how sure I am I never risk the fettman.
Lando really was the forgotten wild card hero in Empire. I even forget about that myself sometimes. The character was so much less edgy in Return of the Jedi that it is easy to forget…
Also, I have to say that I love looking at photos like that frame from Empire Strikes Back at the top of the article. Because it’s all REAL! Real set, real costumes, real actors. No CGI. I LOVE IT!
agreed its nice to see old sets when there is no cgi… all old school all practical all awesome.
He was old back then, must be like 100 about now……
Really he was old when he did Empire Strikes Back? I never knew that how old was he?
Billy Dee Williams will be 76 years old on April 6th; and has not appear on screen in a feature motion picture in nearly 12 years. He’s heavier and grayer, much like the others in the original cast, and might prove disappointing if the actor and the character he’s portraying is mishandled. If mishandled, in all probability, Williams’ performance might very well wound up on the cutting room floor (DVD deleted scenes).
So you have to ask yourself: Will any of the returning cast members plan a significant role, so intregal to the plot of the STAR WARS movie, their character being excised would have a deleterious affect upon the movie? If this might be the case, then it’s likely their contribution will be minimal (extended cameo, certainly on DVD).
There is an applied reasoning/logic in making a marketing decision to include the senior members of the franchise; Billy Dee Williams should be no exception, here, in this instance. Will his appearance carry its own “shock and awe”? Maybe. Is an actor’s vanity withholding his decision to join in the fun before the camera? Could be. Should he worry? Given how fans and media seriously bully celebrities…if he is, can you blame him?
YES!!! YES YES YES!!!
I wish he comes back as the coolest black dude in the universe!
Hell yeah! I am a man of few actions, but those actions count… Lando
at least there not bringing back jar binks instead loved chracters like Luke Skywalker, Han solo, Prencess Leia.
You didn’t read the news? Jar Jar was the actual sith lord the whole time.
I hope thay get a good cast besides the original trio, for example Angry Video Game Nard as General Trwan the bad guy.
I really would like to see him in it, and not for any stupid PC reason. He really was a likeable scoundrel. It’d be interesting to see where his character went in the Star Wars universe (sorry, really hated the Extended Universe BS about his character).