It's going to be so great to see Billy Dee Williams back on the big screen as Lando Calrissian. He originated the role back in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and continued for Episode VI - Return of the Jedi in 1983. It was revealed last year that Williams would return as Lando for Star Wars: Episode IX, which is still filming, although it should be wrapping up fairly soon ahead of its December 2019 release.
Billy Dee Williams is now 81, but he's still got that fighting Force, as he showed off in a recent Twitter photo:
The Force will be with him, always! Billy Dee Williams previously returned to character of Lando in voice roles like in The Lego Movie, The Cleveland Show, Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles, Star Wars Rebels, Lego Star Wars, and half a dozen video games.
But this is the first time he'll bring his Lando back into the original Star Wars Skywalker saga. Donald Glover recently played young Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story, revealing how Lando met Han Solo. Glover said Billy Dee Williams shared simple but perfect advice for how to play Lando.
It's such a shame that Lando will be returning to Star Wars after Han Solo's death in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Carrie Fisher's real-life death in 2016. It would've been a joy to see Harrison Ford's Han, Carrie Fisher's Leia, and Billy Dee Williams' Lando all together again. At least we still have Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker, plus Chewie, this time played by Joonas Suotamo.
Mark Hamill welcomed Billy Dee Williams back to the Star Wars galaxy, after it was confirmed that he would be returning for Episode IX, directed by Episode VII's J.J. Abrams.
Billy Dee Williams previously shared a photo several months ago, showing himself boxing to get fit or the job -- also with his sunglasses on. His future's so bright, he's gotta wear shades!
Star Wars: Episode IX started principal photography back in August 2018 and it was expected to wrap in February 2019, but we'll have to see if that's still the case.
Mark Hamill and John Boyega (Finn) have been doing their parts to share Star Wars intel on social media. Both gents recently posted fun Instagram tidbits about Daisy Ridley (Rey), who is no longer on social media. They seem to have a good time on set, at the very least. Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) did say the filming vibe was looser this time, as compared to The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
John Boyega recently said the whole team pushed themselves to "achieve something visually crazy" and he couldn't wait for fans to see what he meant. Star Wars: Episode IX is officially opening this year, although we still have a long wait ahead. It's coming December 20, as one of the many films to look forward to in 2019.
