The Most Epic Fantasy and Sci-Fi Website

The Rise of Skywalker Star Billy Dee Williams Slams Lando Portrayal in Solo


Credit: Lucasfilm


Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will feature the return of Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian. There have been lots of reports surrounding the actor lately, one being the misinterpreted interview about gender-fluidity. And now, Williams rounds up four decades of Lando portrayal, and he's not exactly fond of how it was done in one particular movie.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Williams shared his thoughts about his character in the Star Wars universe. He admits that he loved the fact that his character isn't exactly written for any particular ethnicity. The actor claimed that George Lucas "wasn't thinking racially," and Williams was enthusiastic about the character having an Armenian surname because it was "an opportunity to move outside of the box."

"To me, I'm Lando," Williams said. He then went on to express his respect and love for actor Donald Glover, who played Lando in the 2018 movie Solo. "He's a brilliant young man. But his hair was not how I thought of Lando," Williams added.

The actor said Glover's hair was "more Afrocentric," but he pointed out that he isn't against it. However, Williams stated that when he "created" Lando, "he was beyond all of that."

The outlet also mentioned that Williams was "perplexed" about Lando being in love or lust with a droid in Solo. "I think that's the reason they didn't have the success they could have had," he admitted. The actor thinks they were going for something "topical," instead of "an adventure that's far beyond those questions."

He then poses a question. Saying that if the film was supposed to have a "huge, incredible story," why would it be "locked" into a "tiny moment between a character like Lando and his robot friend?"

With Solo being a divisive movie, it is very likely that Star Wars fans will either agree or disagree with Williams' opinion about the portrayal of the character in the 2018 movie. That being said, it is much better to respect each other's thoughts about the matter. It is also important to note that Williams isn't directing this to Glover since he made it clear in the interview that he respects and loves the actor.

Catch Billy Dee Williams in The Rise of Skywalker, set for release on December 20.

Also Read: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Lando Calrissian's Full Name Revealed

For more articles like this, take a look at our Star Wars page.