Star Wars 9: How Lando Can Fit Into The Sequel Trilogy

The original Lando Calrissian, Billy Dee Williams, is returning to the Star Wars galaxy for Star Wars: Episode IX, in a story that is expected to wrap up the sequel trilogy, and possibly the entire Skywalker saga.

The Star Wars franchise is thriving under the guiding hand of Disney and Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy. Three years in a row, the franchise pumped out annual billion-dollar hits, though they hit something of a financial snag with Solo: A Star Wars Story's underwhelming box office returns.

As production begins on Episode IX, directed by J.J. Abrams, anticipation for the presumed final chapter in the sequel trilogy is beginning to build. While plot details on Episode IX are being kept tightly under wraps, one huge question on everybody's mind has been this: where's Lando?

Indeed, Lando Calrissian, one of the original trilogy's most universally beloved characters, has been conspicuously absent from the sequel films. Actor Billy Dee Williams first played the iconic rogue smuggler/charming space dandy/legitimate businessman in 1980's The Empire Strikes Back. After the original trilogy wrapped up, he's returned to voice the character in a number of recent projects like the animated Star Wars: Rebels series, the Star Wars: Battlefront II video game, and even made a decidedly non-canon cameo in The LEGO Movie. Still, Williams hasn't appeared in live-action since 1983's Return of the Jedi. It been a long time coming, but his moment has arrived; Billy Dee Williams has been confirmed to appear in Star Wars: Episode IX.

This Page: Where is Lando in the Sequel Trilogy?
Page 2: How Will Lando Play Into the Plot of Star Wars 9?

Where is Lando in the Sequel Trilogy?

Billy Dee Williams as Lando on the Rebel command ship in Return of the Jedi

It's only fair for Lando to play a significant role in Episode IX, since he's pretty much the only member of the original cast who has yet to make an appearance in the new series. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and even Frank Oz have all returned as their classic characters, so Lando deserves his chance to shine, and not just in a glorified cameo.

With that in mind, what exactly has Lando been up to, in-universe? Even with the wealth of new canon in the form of novels, comic books, and animated programs, there's surprisingly little detail about Lando's life after the fall of the Galactic Empire, though he appeared in a wealth of tie-in material. Star Wars: Battlefront II shows that he remained with the Rebel Alliance as they slowly consolidated their victory over the Empire, but after that, his whereabouts are mostly unknown.

Lando's latest mention in the canon timeline came in the novel Bloodline, which is set six years before Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The novel focuses on Senator Leia Organa as she navigates politics during the rise of The First Order. At one point in the novel, she becomes embroiled in a political scandal which arises when the public discovers that her father was none other than Darth Vader. It's said that Lando was among several friends who offered well-wishes and support during this period of great difficulty for the political leader. While he doesn't make an actual, physical appearance in the story, at least the audience knows he's alive and well, if perhaps keeping a low profile. It's almost as if Lucasfilm had mandated that old man Lando be kept off-limits until he made his proper debut in the movies. In the lead-up to Episode IX, it's a safe bet that much of Lando's backstory will be revealed in novels, comics, and – hopefully – in Star Wars: Resistance.

Page 2 of 2: How Will Lando Play Into the Plot of Star Wars 9?

How Will Lando Play Into the Plot of Star Wars 9?

So far, each entry in the Star Wars sequel trilogy has focused on one character from the original film acting as something of a mentor to the young cast of the new movies. In Episode VII, it was Han Solo introducing Rey and Finn into this larger world, and Episode VIII saw Luke Skywalker teaching Rey the ways of The Force while discovering there were still lessons left for him to learn, as well. It was reasonably expected by many that Episode IX would feature Leia as the wizened mentor, building off her increased role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, maybe even taking the role of Rey's new Jedi instructor. Sadly, actor Carrie Fisher passed away in December 2016. She had completed her work on The Last Jedi, and writer/director Rian Johnson ultimately decided not to alter her role in any way, as a tribute to Fisher.

Needless to say, Carrie Fisher will not be in Episode IX, and Lucasfilm has stated they have no plans to digitally recreate Leia using stand-ins and CGI, so the question becomes: who will carry her torch? Who will represent the original trilogy as this new trilogy comes to a close? The answer appears to be Lando.

Lucasfilm has been saving Lando Calrissian, keeping his whereabouts a secret, possible so he can make his grand return in Episode IX. Star Wars: The Last Jedi ended with The Resistance down, but not out. Luke Skywalker reignited hope in the galaxy, and the free systems are rumbling with that spark of rebellion which, time and time again, has kept tyranny at bay. The galaxy is a powder keg, ready and waiting to fight back against the totalitarianism of The First Order.

Admiral Ackbar is dead. Han Solo is dead. Luke Skywalker is dead. Admiral Holdo is dead. General Ematt is alive, but only Wookiepedia scholars can identify that character. Simply put, The Resistance is in need of leadership in the form of an elder statesman who knows his way around a battlefield. Aside from Wedge Antilles, who has also been absent since Return of the Jedi (the legend goes that Denis Lawson not being interested in a walk-on cameo role, but would be open to returning if Wedge was given a proper supporting role), Lando is the only character who fits the bill.

Part of Lando's role should include addressing the proverbial elephant in the room – where has he been this whole time? Why hasn't Lando been with The Resistance? Is he retired? Was he fighting on another front? Or, most likely, has he been using his legitimate business ventures as a front for supplying aid to Leia and her freedom fighters?

Will Lando Get Killed Off Like the Other Original Cast Members?

Harrison Ford as Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

When Lando appears in Episode IX, he will likely assume a prominent position in The Resistance. After all, he was a General in the Rebellion, and The Resistance is in need of leadership, especially since Leia will likely be absent from the film, though it is currently unknown how the filmmakers plan to resolve her character arc. One way or another, Leia's absence will be explained away, and Lando could lead The Resistance in their final battle against The First Order.

Speaking of battles, this raises another question: if Lando pops up in Episode IX, will he survive?

Han Solo returned for Episode VII and died. Luke Skywalker returned for Episode VIII and died. It doesn't take a crack detective to notice the trend. Had General Leia been part of Episode IX, would she have survived? If her role is adapted for Lando, what is his life expectancy? It's tough to come up with reasonable answers based on multiple layers of speculation, but a major theme in the sequel trilogy has been burying the past, one way or another. Rey was constantly looking to her past, waiting for her parents to return, then hoping they would be someone special like Luke or Han, only to discover they were losers who sold her off for drinking money, leaving her without a past... But with a future.

Likewise, very few fans will ever forget their emotional turmoil when Kylo Ren murdered his own father, burying the past and forging his own path as the ultimate wielder of the Dark Side of The Force, a path he continued on when he killed his master, Supreme Leader Snoke. Even Luke Skywalker chose to sacrifice himself in a successful effort to hold back The First Order and buy the Rebels sufficient time to escape and live to fight another day.

Then again, Rey did take the original Jedi texts and stowed them away on the Millennium Falcon, ensuring that the ways of the Jedi would never really die and that she could look to the past for guidance while deciding what kind of future she would build. And, of course, Luke told his sister, Leia, "No one's ever really gone," a line with a multitude of meanings, both in-universe and out.

Lando Calrissian is finally returning to the Star Wars galaxy. He's not a Jedi, but he is a Rebel, and it's doubtful he would let The Resistance wither and die when there's a chance he could help them overcome the odds and defeat The First Order.

Following the positive reception to Donald Glover's take on the classy scoundrel in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Lando Calrissian is more popular than ever. Like Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill before him, Billy Dee Williams is all geared up for one last ride as his most legendary character