As production continues on the Han Solo movie, star Donald Glover has been chatting to Deadline about taking on the iconic role of the smooth-talking scoundrel Lando Calrissian in the second Star Wars Anthology film, and the appeal of the beloved character.
“This is probably one of my favorite experiences ever,” states Glover. “For working under, like, a huge conglomerate, it’s actually been quite an enjoyable, artistic thing. I get to play him in a way that I think is honest and true and cool. And it’s great ’cause I didn’t have to write anything, I’m focused strictly on being this guy. And I really respect him and I respect the actor who played him before. I’ve learned a lot about this character, so it’s actually been really fulfilling and nice to just turn off everything else and focus on just being someone. So it’s been cool.”
“Lando seems to be a lot of people’s favorite character,” he continued. “It’s cool. It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also very exciting. He was my favorite character too. I grew up on Star Wars. It’s just cool to see him again. I feel like people like him ’cause he has a lot of style, but also he’s a complicated character in this world. I think even Han isn’t as complicated as Lando is. From the first time you meet him, you don’t know whether to trust him or not, and you’re constantly not knowing whether to trust him. I like that about him.”
As yet, we haven’t seen Glover in costume as Lando, although that could change over the coming weeks, particularly with D-23 and San Diego Comic-Con International both taking place next month.
SEE ALSO: Star Wars spinoff set photo offers first look at Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo
SEE ALSO: Han Solo set video sees a Stormtrooper riding a speeder
Han Solo is being directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The LEGO Movie) and stars Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) as the famous smuggler, Donald Glover (Atlanta) as Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson (War for the Planet of the Apes) as Beckett (Solo’s mentor), Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) as a droid. Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Thandie Newton (Westworld), Ian Kenny (Sing Street) and Michael K. Williams (The Night Of) have been cast in unrevealed roles. It is set for release on May 25th, 2018.
Originally published June 9, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.
