Star Wars Lando Series Writer Has No Idea If The Show Will Ever Get Made
The fate of the Star Wars spin-off series about Lando Calrissian remains unclear as its writer has no idea what’s going on with it. Speaking to The Direct, Justin Simien said the last time he discussed the project with Disney was in 2020 and has “not received an update since that update.” The revelation comes months after Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said the series was definitely still happening.
Star Wars: Lando writer Justin Simien says he hasn’t received any updates on the show in three years.
“I certainly poured my heart and spent a lot of time working with them [Disney] to put together a really great show,” Simien said of the Star Wars: Lando series. “It feels like everybody loves it, and I was told we had to put a pause on it because of scheduling, and the next update I got [was in 2020], some years ago. So I don’t know. I have no idea what’s going on with it.”
However, in a 2022 interview with Cinema Blend at Star Wars Celebration, Kennedy said the delay lies with Donald Glover, who is set to reprise his role as the titular character.
“You need to ask Donald,” she said. “He’s the one that holds all the cards here. But there’s no movement. I will say that honestly. But it’s not for lack of trying. It’s just that he’s a very busy guy.”
At the time, she explained that Glover needed to wrap up a few other projects before he was ready for the Star Wars: Lando series. “So patiently waiting,” Kennedy added.
During the initial announcement of the Star Wars: Lando series, the only information provided was that Justin Simien, the creator of Dear White People, would serve as lead writer.
There was no confirmation about whether Donald Glover or Billy Dee Williams would reprise their respective Star Wars roles as Lando Calrissian. As time passed, it became clear that Glover’s portrayal from Solo: A Star Wars Story was the likely choice for the lead.
However, there is still a chance of Williams appearing after his comeback in The Rise of Skywalker.
“You need to ask Donald [Glover]. He’s the one that holds all the cards here. But there’s no movement. I will say that honestly. But it’s not for lack of trying. It’s just that he’s a very busy guy.”
-Kathleen Kennedy
In recent times, Lucasfilm has not shied away from canceling Star Wars projects, including films like Rogue Squadron and Kevin Feige’s planned movie. Disney+ also scrapped Rangers of the New Republic.
Furthermore, Lucasfilm’s focus on Disney+ seems to be centered on stories set in the New Republic. In 2023, there are scheduled releases of Star Wars shows like Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew, with The Mandalorian season four to follow, which doesn’t align with the timeline of Lando. Another obstacle standing in the way of the show is Donald Glover’s attachment to the titular role.
“I certainly poured my heart and spent a lot of time working with them [Disney] to put together a really great show. It feels like everybody loves it, and I was told we had to put a pause on it because of scheduling, and the next update I got [was in 2020], some years ago. So I don’t know. I have no idea what’s going on with it.”
-Justin Simien, Lando writer
Although Glover expressed his willingness to play Lando again, Lucasfilm is growing increasingly cautious about recasting legacy characters. This was evident with the use of deep fake technology for Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. So the chances of Glover returning to Star Wars as Lando is diminishing.
Moreover, Disney seems to be shifting its focus back to movies by revealing the release dates for three upcoming Star Wars films, all slated to hit theaters within one and a half years.
This significant reshuffling, which also impacted Marvel and Avatar films, resulted in the highly anticipated Star Wars film initially planned for 2025 being delayed to May 22, 2026.
It was supposed to mark the franchise’s return to the silver screen following the release of The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. So although fans may be disappointed that the Lando series has stalled, there is still a lot of Star Wars content to look forward to.
