The Star Wars franchise's future still isn't overly clear. Plenty of movies and TV shows have been announced, but if Kathleen Kennedy's tenure as Lucasfilm President has taught us anything, it's that we should take those with a grain of salt (Rogue Squadron was supposed to be released in theaters last December).
Lando was originally announced as a Disney+ TV series before Lucasfilm essentially ghosted director Justin Simien and decided to move forward with a movie version instead (which is being written by Donald Glover and his brother Stephen).
Asked by The Hollywood Reporter (via SFFGazette.com) why he's returning as Lando Calrissian after previously starring in Solo: A Star Wars Story, the actor said, "Maya and I talk about nos a lot, it’s the only power you have in this industry. But I said yes because I like the characters and my kids love Star Wars."
"I just know when something’s going to be good, because you’re really fighting the industry when you [put your imprint on a franchise of that magnitude]. And it’s not like...I was going to say, and it’s not like I hate the industry, but now I’m like, 'Do I hate the industry?' [Laughs]. I feel like I have enough control. And maybe you get painted as a control freak, but it’s like, yeah, control allows for the vision to be singular.
"And if the vision is singular, people want it more. The less it’s singular, the less people want it because they feel like they could’ve made it. Look, we live in a time where anybody can f***ing make anything," he continued. "You go on TikTok, there’s literally every type of thing. There’s documentaries, there’s puppetry, there’s yarn stop-motion. So why would you want to see something you feel like you could have made?"
Glover also shared the words of advice he received from the original Lando, the beloved Billy Dee Williams. "He was like, 'I don’t know. Be charming," he recalls. "And he wasn’t looking at me. That was my favourite part. I think a waitress or something went by."
In other Star Wars news, Ewan McGregor recently appeared at MegaCon Orlando and once again made a case for Obi-Wan Kenobi season 2. Kennedy has been pretty resolute about it not happening, but could that change with Disney on the hunt for guaranteed box office hits?
After all, an Obi-Wan Kenobi movie could surely follow The Mandalorian and Grogu!
"There was originally gonna be a movie, and I've often thought, should it have been a movie?" the actor admitted. "But I kinda think it's great that they did it that way, and it's a longer story, and hopefully it's more satisfying as a result. We got more time to weave a story. Let's hope they do another one. Can everyone write to Disney?"
We'll be keeping our fingers crossed for a follow-up, but now that Obi-Wan and Darth Vader have crossed paths again, it's tricky to predict where the Jedi could go next with A New Hope closing in. Perhaps a rematch with Maul after their brief clash in Star Wars Rebels?
Stay tuned for more on Star Wars as we have it.