The pair, who worked together on Atlanta, are heading to a galaxy far, far away.
Updated 17/09/23: Stephen Glover has revealed that the Star Wars Lando project is a feature film, not a series.
The potential Lando Calrissian project, starring Donald Glover as the younger version of the character, whom he memorably brought to life for Solo: A Star Wars Story, has long been mooted.
For a while, Lando was in the hands of director Justin Simien (Haunted Mansion), but recently we learned that Donald Glover himself, along with his screenwriter brother Stephen, had taken the reigns. At that point, the assumption was that it was a television series, presumably bound for Disney+. Now, however, comments from Stephen Glover on a recent podcast indicate that the project has enjoyed a change of direction.
Speaking on Pablo Torre Finds Out, Stephen Glover said: “It’s not even a show…the idea right now is to do a movie. Right now, because of the strike its kinds of like telephone all of the information.”
According to Deadline, Lucasfilm have now confirmed Stephen Glover’s comments. Of course, given the current actors and writers strikes in Hollywood, we don’t expect to hear much more on the subject for a while but the prospect of an adventure for young Lando on the big screen is tantalising.
We’ll keep you posted.
Updated 01/08/23: The original Lando star teases “something truly magnificent.”
Just a day or so after the announcement regarding Donald and Stephen Glover’s involvement in a Star Wars Lando Calrissian television series, it appears that there’s even more exciting news.
Billy Dee Williams, the actor who created the iconic character on screen, has taken to social media teasing news that surely has to be related.
— Billy Dee Williams (@realbdw) August 1, 2023
Williams talks about a “dream come true” and encourages fans to watch out for further news. He even ends his message with “May the Force be with you all”.
If the star is taking part in the Lando series, it opens up a universe of possibilities. Our thoughts instantly go to The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, which had a framing device through which an elderly Indy related his youthful exploits.
As well as appearing in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Williams returned to the role for 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. He’s also voiced the character for various Star Wars animated projects over the years.
We’ll keep you posted on Lando news.
Original article (of 31/01) continues…
Donald and Stephen Glover to write the Star Wars Lando series
The pair, who worked together on Atlanta, are heading to a galaxy far, far away.
Since its announcement, way back in 2020 at a Disney Investor Day, there’s been precious little news on the subject of a Lando Calrissian series.
However, Donald Glover’s performance as the younger version of Billy Dee Williams’ stylish gambler in Solo: A Star Wars Story was such a highlight that it has always felt like a matter of when rather than if.
Now, thanks to news broken by Above the Line, and confirmed by io9, it seems that the series has been on course for a while. Previously under the auspices of director Justin Simien (Haunted Mansion), who apparently exited the project last summer, star Donald Glover and his screenwriter brother Stephen are taking the project forward. The pair were apparently signed up before the start of the recent WGA strike. We’d assume that’s with a plan for Donald to reprise his role as the universe’s coolest wearer of cloaks!
“It’s a fun time, being him. It just has to be the right way to do it.”
According to a recent video interview with GQ last summer, Donald Glover made positive noises, saying:
“We’re talking about it. That’s as much as I can say without [Lucasfilm president] Kathleen Kennedy hunting me down.”
However, he did go on to add:
“Lando is charm incarnate. He’s kind of a maverick, which I don’t think there’s a lot of anymore. It’s hard to be the smooth talker nowadays. Where’s the line? That’s also where the danger is. How close can you get without tripping over it?”
“It’s a fun time, being him. It just has to be the right way to do it. Time is precious. The past couple of years, this pandemic shit, it really had people experience time… People realize their time is valuable. You only get so much. I’m not interested in doing anything that’s going to be a waste of my time or just a paycheck. I’d much rather spend time with people that I enjoy. It just has to be the right thing, and I think it could be. Lando is definitely somebody I like to hang out with.”
Glover Brothers
As well as collaborating on four seasons of Atlanta, where Stephen was the head writer, the pair have also worked together on Prime Video’s recent horror series Swarm. Stephen also penned the 2019 musical Guava Island in which Donald starred opposite Rhianna.
We’ll keep you posted on any further Lando news.