Is Billy Dee Williams Gearing Up to Reprise Lando in STAR WARS: EPISODE IX?

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Audiences just got a big dose of Lando in the form of Donald Glover in Solo: A Star Wars Story. But there is a possibility that we could see the OG Lando – Billy Dee Williams – reprise his role in Episode IX.

Williams appeared at Mega Con Orlando this weekend, and they reported that the 81 year old actor is on a diet and exercise regimen.

Fun Billy Dee Williams fact: Billy just had his 81st birthday. He’s training 3 times a week with a trainer and has a whole new diet.

— MEGACON Orlando (@MegaConOrlando) May 25, 2018

It sounds similar to what Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher had to do before they showed up in The Force Awakens for the first time.

Now, this could be completely unrelated. It could just be to get a bit healthier in his twilight years, or for another unrelated movie role completely. It doesn’t necessarily mean he’s appearing in Star Wars. But it could. After all, Disney made Mark Hamill go through a strict diet and exercise program to have 10 seconds of screen time at the end of The Force Awakens. So even if Williams has nothing more than a glorified cameo, they training and diet aren’t so ridiculous.

Billy Dee Williams! The OG Lando himself! Fun Fact: he had an affinity for ostriches! pic.twitter.com/PLwyrJg6lA

— MEGACON Orlando (@MegaConOrlando) May 25, 2018

There were rumors that Rian Johnson wanted Williams in The Last Jedi as owner of the casino on Canto Bight, but there were a plethora of reasons reported on why that didn’t happen. Who knows if any of it is true, but it would be nice to see Williams play Lando again. Abrams knows how to use nostalgia as a powerful tool, so it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Lando did show up again.

If this is nothing, and he ends up not being in Episode IX, Lando fans can take solace in what Glover did for the character in Solo. I would be shocked if he didn’t get his own spinoff, or appear in any adventures they make in that time period again. They should grab someone like Shane Black to make a Lando/Lobot buddy heist movie. Cast Matt Smith as Lobot, and have it be Lethal Weapon meets Ocean’s Eleven.

What do you think? Is all of that dieting and exercise for a future role? Or is it just because it is the healthy thing to do? What would you like to see Lando contribute in Episode IX if he does appear?

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Matt Vernier

Lifelong geek who is passionate about movies. I review things on my blog: https://www.GeekyRegards.com. Find me on Twitter! @MattV525 - Inquiries: Mavern519@gmail.com

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