Billy Dee Williams Will Return as Lando Calrissian in STAR WARS EPISODE IX

Pre-production on J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars Episode IX is well underway, with filming set to start this month. Several actors from the last two films will return here, while Keri Russell is in talks to play a new character. Now, an original Star Wars trilogy alum – who has been rumored to return for years – has signed on.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Billy Dee Williams is set to reprise the role of Lando Calrissian in Episode IX. Williams has been rumored to join the sequel trilogy from the beginning, but for one reason or another, it didn’t work out until now. More recently, Williams dropped out of a convention due to scheduling, which only fueled speculation. Well, it’s happening.

Williams played Lando in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, cementing his status as one of Star Wars‘ most beloved characters. He went on to reprise the role in various other forms of media, such as Star Wars Rebels and The LEGO Movie. However, these were all in vocal performances; Episode IX will mark Williams’ return to live action. Meanwhile, a younger Lando was played by Donald Glover in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Stay tuned for more news as we have it. Star Wars Episode IX is set to hit theaters on December 20th, 2019.