As one of the biggest Star Wars fans on the planet, I cannot begin to describe the excitement that resonated with me when Donald Glover was cast as Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Lando, who was originally played by Billy Dee Williams in the original Star Wars trilogy, was an amazing character that balanced Han Solo's reckless rebel attitude with a smooth and suave demeanor. Lando is one of the most important characters in the Star Wars franchise, mostly because without him, there would be no Millennium Falcon. Lando was the owner of the ship before losing it to Han in a bet, which will surely be displayed in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story film.
The entire aesthetic of the film feels like a 70's western, except in outer space. Meshing sci-fi with old western storytelling elements will make for an interesting addition to the Star Wars catalog. In an interview with The Star Wars Show, Donald Glover revealed the first thing he did when he learned he got the role of Lando. "The day I found out I got it, I remember I bought like a whole pizza, and went home and watched Empire Strikes Back. The second film in the original Star Wars trilogy is where Lando made his debut, and Empire Strikes Back is widely considered the best Star Wars film of all time.
Check out the full interview below.