I cannot count how many times Scrubs has come up when discussing the best TV sitcoms of all time. Over the course of nine seasons (and two networks), the Zach Braff-led medical comedy introduced audiences to some of the most iconic and endearing small-screen characters of the past 25 years, as well as some legendary celebrity guests. With Academy Award winners, Star Wars alumni, and on-the-rise comedians, Sacred Heart Hospital was a hopping place when these 32 actors popped up on Scrubs.

Brendan Fraser

Though Brendan Fraser is best known for roles in movies like The Mummy, The Whale, and Encino Man, the Oscar winner played a small yet pivotal role as Ben Sullivan on Scrubs. Dr. Cox’s (John C. McGinley) brother-in-law, Ben was at the center of several of the best episodes of Scrubs as well as one of the most emotional TV moments of all time. Seriously, Ben is one of the best characters to ever appear on the show, which is saying a lot.

Michael J. Fox

One of several Spin City cast members to show up on Scrubs, Michael J. Fox appeared in a pair of episodes during the show’s third season. Taking on the role of Dr. Kevin Casey, a confident and talented doctor and surgeon dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Ryan Reynolds

Before he was leading some of the best Marvel movies and showing up in great romantic comedies, Ryan Reynolds had a one-off appearance on Scrubs. Showing up in the show’s second season, Reynolds played Spence, J.D. (Zach Braff) and Turk’s (Donald Faison) college friend who comes to visit while in town for a wedding.

Courteney Cox

A few years after Friends came to an end and a few months before Cougar Town premiered, Courteney Cox had a brief fun on Scrubs. During her handful of appearances in the show’s eighth season, Cox played Dr. Taylor Maddox, the new Sacred Heart chief of medicine following Dr. Kelso’s (Ken Jenkins) sudden departure.

Dick Van Dyke

Probably the Scrubs celebrity guest with the most prolific career, Dick Van Dyke showed up for a single episode partway through the show’s second season. The legendary actor/singer/dancer took on the role of Dr. Doug Townshend, a Sacred Heart doctor who no longer wanted to stick around and keep up with technology and decided to retire.

Elizabeth Banks

In terms of guest spots, few actors appeared in as many episodes as Elizabeth Banks. Between Seasons 5 and 8, Banks popped up in a total of 15 episodes as Dr. Kim Briggs, a urologist at another hospital who eventually became the mother of J.D.’s son before it was all said and done.

Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell was just about everywhere in the 2000s, including Scrubs. The In Bruges actor played Billy Callahan, an Irishman who was sticking around to watch over a man he knocked out in a bar fight, partway through Season 4. Though his arrival caused a stir at Sacred Heart, it all eventually worked out in the end.

Aziz Ansari

Before he became one of the biggest comedians on the planet thanks to Parks and Recreation and Master of None, Aziz Ansari had a supporting role on Scrubs. Ansari appeared throughout the show’s eighth season where he played Dr. Ed Dhandapani, one of J.D.’s young interns, and possibly the laziest person at Sacred Heart.

Heather Graham

A major player throughout Scrubs Season 4, Heather Graham took on the role of Dr. Molly Clock, a psychiatrist at Sacre Heart who kept referring to J.D. as “Johnny.” She appeared in nine episodes during her single-season run on the show.

Billy Dee Williams

Billy Dee Williams, of Star Wars and Brian’s Song fame, showed up in a single episode of Scrubs Season 5. But like other guest stars, Williams played himself, or at least a version that was Julie Quinn’s (Mandy Moore) godfather.

Matthew Perry

The late Matthew Perry (appearing alongside his real-life father, John Bennett Perry) showed up for an episode of Scrubs back in the show’s fourth season. In his one-off appearance, Perry played Murray Marks, a man who comes to Sacred Heart Hospital to donate a kidney to his ailing father.

Mandy Moore

Several years before she led another all-time great NBC series, This Is Us, Mandy Moore showed up on Scrubs as Julie Quinn. Though she only appeared on a pair of episodes during the show’s fifth season, Moore’s character made quite an impact on the staff at Sacred Heart, especially J.D. Their romance was short-lived, but one the hopeless romantic doctor wouldn’t forget.

Richard Kind

Harvey Corman is definitely one of the most iconic (and annoying) guest characters on Scrubs, and that’s all thanks to the brilliant work by Richard Kind. A hypochondriac like no other, Corman was in and out of Sacred Heart Hospital with all kinds of issues and medical emergencies throughout Seasons 2 through 4.

Masi Oka

Before having a massive breakout role on Heroes, Masi Oka appeared on Scrubs off and on between Seasons 1 and 4, in which he took on the role of a lab tech named Franklyn. Though he only appeared in a handful of episodes before leaving the show, Oka’s character showed up in some of the most memorable moments in Scrubs history.

Tom Cavanagh

In addition to leading the comedy series Ed, Tom Cavanagh also had a sizable guest spot on Scrubs. Every once in a while, Cavanagh would show up as J.D.’s older brother, Dan Dorian. There for a life, a shoulder to cry on, or an important life lesson, Dan was there for some of his brother’s most trying moments.

Tara Reid

Tara Reid was part of the Scrubs cast for 11 episodes, with all but one coming from the show’s third season. During her run, Reid took on the role of Danni Sullivan, Ben Sullivan’s younger sister, who became one of J.D.’s many girlfriends at one point.

Phill Lewis

Phill Lewis has appeared just about everywhere throughout his prolific TV career, including Sacred Heart Hospital for a stretch. During his run on Scrubs, Lewis portrayed Hooch, an orthopedic surgeon with a wild and dangerous side, to say the very least.

Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman popped up for a single episode of Scrubs during the show’s fifth season. During his one-off appearance, Bateman plays Mr. Sutton, a garbageman who refuses to thank J.D. after being treated.

John Ritter

The late John Ritter showed up in two episodes of Scrubs as Sam Dorian, J.D.’s dad. The cash-strapped and constantly unemployed character had his issues, but still cared deeply for his song.

Taran Killam

Before landing a steady gig on Saturday Night Live, Taran Killam had a recurring role on Scrubs during the show’s penultimate season. Killam took on the role of Jimmy, one of J.D.’s interns at Sacred Heart.

Jimmie Walker

Jimmie Walker, best known for his portrayal of J.J. Evans and his “Dynomite” catchphrase from Good Times, appeared in two episodes of Scrubs. During the show’s first season, Walker played himself as he appeared in two of the J.D.’s signature daydreams.

Sean Hayes

Best known for his roles as Jack McFarland on Will & Grace, Sean Hayes has made a ton of other appearances over the years. This includes Scrubs, where he played Nick Murdoch, an intern whose time at Sacred Heart was shortlived because he couldn’t handle the stress and emotional toll of watching a young patient’s slow demise under his care.

Ricky Schroder

Ricky Schroder’s career got off to a hot start as a child actor, including multiple appearances and a leading role on Silver Spoons, one of the most beloved sitcoms of the ‘80s. That career would continue well into adulthood for the former teenage star, including a four-episode turn on Scrubs. During the show’s second season, Schroder played Paul Flower, a male nurse Elliott Reid (Sarah Chalke) was embarrassed to admit she was dating.

Kelli Williams

If you look at the list of the best TV shows of all time, you’ll find multiple featuring the work of Kelli Williams. In addition to Law & Order, Quantum Leap, The Practice, and Ally McBeal, there’s also Scrubs. During her two episodes back in 2001, Williams played Kristen Murphy, a surgical student at Sacred Heart Hospital.

Cheryl Hines

In the middle of her run as Larry David’s wife on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Cheryl Hines made a brief appearance on Scrubs. During a single episode in the show’s fifth season, Hines played Paige Cox, Dr. Perry Cox’s very religious sister who shows up at Sacred Heart Hospital and forces the temperamental doctor to think about memories he long locked away in the deepest and most secure vaults of his mind.

Dave Foley

Dave Foley, best known for his time on The Kids in the Hall and movies like A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2, had a pair of appearances on Scrubs during the middle of the show’s nine-season run. Foley took on the role of Dr. Lester Hedrick, a Sacred Heart grief counselor who was like a softer, kinder, and more easy-going mentor for J.D. when compared to the easily angered and annoyed Dr. Cox.

Julianna Margulies

E.R. wasn’t the only NBC-based show set in a hospital to feature the work of Julianna Margulies, as she also popped up on Scrubs for a couple of episodes during the show’s fourth season. But instead of playing a doctor this time, Margulies took on the role of Jenna Broderick, a candidate for the scariest lawyer award. The malpractice attorney had a habit of showing up and causing trouble, especially with J.D. Not much is known about the character’s whereabouts about J.D. put an end to things.

Keri Russell

Keri Russell, best known for her work on shows like Felicity and The Americans, had a short run on Scrubs, appearing in two episodes. In the show’s sixth season, Russell took on the role of Melody O’Harra, Elliott’s sorority sister who shows up and brings her easy-go-lucky personality and philosophy on life to the core group of the cast, but mostly J.D.

Heather Locklear

Heather Locklear added Scrubs to her long list of TV credits when she appeared for a pair of episodes during the show’s second season. During her time on the show, Locklear played Julie Keaton, a pharmaceutical rep who showed up at Sacred Heart Hospital to sell her company’s latest and greatest product. But she got more than she could chew when she started a relationship with Dr. Perry Cox, which provided a short-lived reprieve for everyone who had grown tired of his anger and outbursts while making rounds.

Christopher Meloni

Christopher Meloni played one of the most sadistic prisoners in the Oz cast as well as a dedicated and complicated detective on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but did you know he played a pediatrician on Scrubs? Well, that was the case for an episode during the show’s third season in which he played Dr. David Norris, Dr. Cox and Jordan Sullivan’s (Christa Miller) son’s pediatrician. Though a far stretch from his turn as Chris Keller on the landmark HBO series, Dr. Norris was still a wild card, to say the very least.

Amy Smart

Amy Smart showed up in movies like Varsity Blues, Road Trip, and The Butterfly Effect throughout the late ‘90s and early 2000s, but she also had quite a few TV appearances during that stretch of time. This included a spot on Scrubs as Jamie Moyer, aka “Tasty Coma Wife,” the wife of a car crash victim. This led to one of J.D.’s most ridiculous relationships on the series, which is saying something.

Nicole Sullivan

Mad TV star Nicole Sullivan appeared in a handful of episodes of Scrubs. Sullivan played Jill Tracy, a recurring troubled patient at Sacred Heart who made an impact on everyone she encountered, for better or worse. Her death, which ultimately led to one of the show’s most heartbreaking sequences (it features The Fray’s “How To Save a Life”), is one that had a massive impact on the medical staff for years to come.

Hollywood sadly lost another beloved legend this week, as Star Wars and Field of Dreams vet James Earl Jones died at 93. With a career that kicked off on the theater stage in the 1950s before his film debut in Stanley Kubrick’s excellent satire Dr. Strangelove, Jones was a prolific and dedicated talent who worked with some of the best in the business, and many of his former co-stars and longtime fans paid tribute following his death.

As one of the relative few EGOT-earning celebrities out there, James Earl Jones has been an inspirational force to plenty of actors young and old within the entertainment industry, and judging by the outpouring of love and appreciation, it’s clear his impact was widespread and likely won’t be fading away anytime soon. (Darth Vader, he was not.) Let's look at some of the loving messages shared on social media.

Mark Hamill

Arguably the most famous of all of his roles, James Earl Jones voiced all-time great movie villain Darth Vader across several Star Wars films and more (sometimes aided by tech wizardry). And while he wasn't the actual physical performer under Vader's helmet, the actor still made quite an impact on his younger co-star Mark Hamill, who shared the following message:

To be sure, Mark Hamill definitely wasn't the only Star Wars vet who shared the love.

Billy Dee Williams

Having starred as Lando Calrissian across three Star Wars films, Billy Dee Williams is a beloved sci-fi icon who was lucky enough to call James Earl Jones a friend. Here's how he paid his respects via Instagram:

That booming voice was known for more than just Darth Vader, of course, with millions of Disney fanatics out there having long adored him for voicing The Lion King's Mufasa.

George Lucas

The spearheader behind all things Star Wars, at least in the early years before Disney took over, George Lucas helped turn Jones into a globally renowned superstar, even if the actor wasn't initially credited for his voicework as Darth Vader. (That came later.) Here's the filmmaker's statement, as shared on the Star Wars Instagram:

True to his words, many of James Earl Jones' most effective roles, even the villainous and scary ones — The Sandlot's Mr. Mertle among them — were made all the more effective because of the humanity that remained intact behind the performances.

Kevin Costner

Outside of the world of Star Wars, one of James Earl Jones' best movies was a feel-good baseball flick that everyone loves. No, I'm not talking about The Sandlot again, but rather 1989's Field of Dreams, co-starring Kevin Costner, who shared his own tribute to the late legend.

Sure, it's possible that another actor could have stepped into the role of Terence Mann and made it work opposite Costner's Ray Kinsella, but it wouldn't have been the grand slam performance that James Earl Jones delivered to the heartwarming drama.

Debbie Allen

The always wonderful Debbie Allen, who'd previously cast James Earl Jones in her Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, took to Instagram to share her own tribute to the late, great actor.

The EGOT status was already a sign of his GOAT nature, but having Debbie Allen say it only solidifies the notion.

Octavia Spencer, Steve Toussaint, Josh Gad And More

There are probably too many celebs paying tribute to James Earl Jones to provide a comprehensive rundown of all the kind words being shared in his name, here's a smattering of R.I.P. posts from his adoring fans and occasional co-stars.

• Jurnee Smollett: Today we lost a giant. James Earl Jones was more than a legendary actor - he was a voice that carried strength, dignity, and grace. From his iconic roles to his profound impact on the arts, he paved the way for so many of us. His legacy will continue to inspire generations. Rest in power, King 🖤 #JamesEarlJones
• Octavia Spencer: I’m incredibly saddened to learn of #JamesEarlJones’ passing today. Legendary doesn’t even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever. His voice and talent will be remembered always. Sending love to his family, friends and countless fans in all the galaxies, far, far away. 🤍🕊️
• Michael Beach: I got to work with Mr. James Earl Jones 3 times. The first time I was only out of college for a few years and it was on his show Gabriel’s Fire. The last time was as his son and #robertduvall nephew in a film called #afamilything … I felt nervous and lucky everyday on set with two super actors!…I knew him as a quiet and kind man. But he was a giant to me in many ways and each time I was in his presence I just felt like I was learning and clearly making great career choices!…Thank you Mr. Jones! Respect and appreciation to you and condolences to your family. #ripjamesearljones #aclassic #alegend #moviedad
• Jason Alexander: James Earl Jones was as powerful and profound as he was gentle and grace-filled. His voice could command or move men to tears. His work, all those amazing characters, will remain in my heart and memory all my days. I knew him very briefly and he was everything you’d hoped he would be. May he rest well. #RIPJamesEarlJones

Gabriel's Fire isn't a movie that often comes up when discussing Jones' biggest hits, but it obviously holds a special place in The Perfect Couple star Michael Beach's heart. And some of the actor's other fan-faves like Coming to America and Claudine get namechecked by Josh Gad and House of the Dragon's Steve Toussaint in the posts below:

• Josh Gad: Shattered. There are icons and then there is this man. How do you remember someone who gave us some of the greatest stage and screen performances of all time? For so many of us, you defined our childhoods from Star Wars to Lion King, from Field of Dreams to The Sandlot, from Coming to America to Dr. Strangelove. Thank you James for giving your life to art and filling our lifetimes with some of the best performances of any resume ever. It was an honor to know you and and an even bigger honor to get perform in a theater with your namesake. 💔 #ripjamesearljones
• Omar Epps: Thank you for gifting us with dignity, grace, and resilience. A peaceful warrior who inspired many by exemplifying truths. Though your smile was disarming, the strength of your presence was felt by any who had a chance to share space with you. Being one of those fortune few, I salute you for having persevered, and flourished through it all. Blessings to your family, and may you dance with the angels now!🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾#RIPJamesEarlJones
• Steve Toussaint: So, just heard the news of this master's passing. What a legend. What a colossus! What a voice! Obviously there was that "Star Wars" thing he did, but, there was also "Great White Hope", there was "Claudine", there was "Field Of Dreams"; I could go on... I won't. Was lucky enough to meet him very briefly backstage after he performed in "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" as Big Daddy. A kind and charming man, he made my year! #ripjamesearljones

While there will no doubt be another actor who attempts the Darth Vader voice for upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, there will never be another Hollywood icon quite like James Earl Jones, from his persona to his acting ability to his unmistakable voice. It's been a great ride.

We here at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of James Earl Jones during their time of mourning.

As the Star Wars galaxy continues to expand through new Star Wars Disney+ series and, eventually upcoming Star Wars movies, we have seen different ways that the franchise has brought back iconic characters from the original trilogy. In the case of Luke Skywalker, we’ve seen CGI used to recreate him, but for Lando Calrissian, a younger version of him saw a new actor, Donald Glover, don the iconic cape. And while original actor Billy Dee Williams thinks Glover is great, he doesn’t want anybody to forget who the real Lando is.

Speaking with Radio Times Billy Dee Williams was asked about Donald Glover, who took on the role of Lando for Solo: A Star Wars Story, and is expected to reprise the role down the road for a future Lando movie. Williams calls Glover “talented” and is happy to see the character continuing, but he stops short of calling Glover Lando Calrissian because according to him, there is only one. Williams said…

Certainly nobody is arguing that Billy Dee Williams is responsible for creating Lando Calrissian. Donald Glover is only following in his footsteps and his performance as Lando, while it’s certainly not a Billy Dee Williams impression, is inspired by that version of the character in his on-screen persona.

Willy Billy Dee Williams says he’s more than willing to play Lando again (for the right price) there’s no expectation that he will play the part following his appearance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Donald Glover, however, is expected to play Lando again. Originally there were plans for a Lando-focused series on Disney+ but last year those plans reportedly changed, and the series became a Lando movie. 

Having said that, since the announcement that the show was becoming a movie, we haven’t heard anything, so Lando's movie details are few and far between. The current focus for Star Wars on the big screen appears to be the recently announced Mandalorian & Grogu movie, and the new project that will see the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey. We also learned this week that the Patty Jenkins Rogue Squadron movie, once thought dead, isn’t quite dead yet. 

Hopefully, we’ll get to see more of Lando Calrissian, one way or the other. If it isn’t the man who created the role, it will be the one who was inspired to take it into the future. 

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker gets flak for a lot of reasons, but mainly because the final chapter of the Sequel Trilogy opened the door to a lot of questions the franchise still has yet to answer. Fortunately, there's a chance that upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows address that, and there's no shortage of podcasts that try and squeeze information out of stars in the meantime. In fact, someone did just that with Billy Dee Williams recently and tried to get some answers on the popular Lando Calrissian daughter theory. 

As a guest on the Dagobah Dispatch, Billy Dee Williams was asked about the unresolved plotline where Lando talked about the First Order taking his daughter, and the theory Star Wars fans had that Naomi Ackie's Jannah was his child. The actor couldn't say one way or the other, but he did remark that the people behind the scenes on The Rise Of Skywalker were debating on the actual plotline:

Reading between the lines of Billy Dee Williams' answer, it doesn't seem like anyone who worked on Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker had a final verdict on how to resolve that plotline either. There's a mild implication that Jannah could be Lando's daughter in the movie, but according to the actor, that's not confirmed.

Williams' answer tracks with past attempts to pull this answer out of others, as actress Naomi Ackie noted ahead of the movie's release that Lando likely had children all over the galaxy. If someone had the answer to the question, it doesn't sound like they informed either of the actors involved. 

Jannah was presented as a strong warrior in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, and she was also taken by the First Order and raised to be a stormtrooper. The framework is there to make her Lando's daughter if that's what a future project wishes to do, and I think there's precedent to ultimately make that happen. 

While I've occasionally doted on it as a crutch, the Star Wars universe always seems to be a really small world for an infinitely large galaxy. Characters are brought together despite insurmountable distances between them, though that can be justified through the Force working to bring people together. Ultimately, we can only speculate, and with the upcoming Lando movie being focused on a younger version of the character, it feels unlikely we'll get the answers on his daughter there. Who knows when the true story of what happened to Lando's daughter will be told, if at all?

One thing we do know is that those with a Disney+ subscription can stream Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker right now. It's worth a rewatch for those who haven't seen it since it was in theaters, especially with the franchise finally pushing forward into what all happened after Episode IX. 

Billy Dee Williams has been world famous for decades thanks to his role in the Star Wars movies, but as the now 86-year-old recently recalled, being famous for playing Lando Calrissian hasn’t always been smooth strolling. Apparently for years, Williams would regularly be approached regarding his initial betrayal of Han Solo in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, so much he got tired of defending Lando.

In a new interview with Billy Dee Williams ahead of him joining the celebrity memoir train with What Have We Here?, hitting bookshelves next month, Williams shared that following the hit release of Star Wars: Episode V, he would pick his daughter up from school to kids going up to him telling him he “betrayed Han Solo!” As he continued: 

Of course, it’s kind of hilarious that Williams was defending the actions of the fictional character he plays, but since many viewers of the Star Wars movie were kids, apparently the lines were blurred. As he also told Entertainment Weekly's Dagobah Dispatch: 

While yes, Lando Calrissian did initially betray Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back, leading him to the iconic scene of the smuggler being frozen in carbonite, he eventually does help rescue Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO later on. Plus, his initial betrayal led to perhaps one of the most iconic Star Wars scenes of all time. Without Lando, we literally wouldn’t have the “I love you”/“I know.” moment. So, come on, why the hate? Y’all should take it up with George Lucas. 

The discourse among Star Wars fans that once Billy Dee Williams starred in this hilarious Robot Chicken parody on the subject. Check it: 

Despite all of that The Empire Strikes Back explaining, Billy Dee Williams returned for 1983’s Return of the Jedi before reprising the role for the first time in over 30 years (in live action) in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker  - a role he never thought he’d reprise. Additionally,  Lando was played by Donald Glover in Solo, and the younger actor is also expected to play him again in one of the upcoming Star Wars projects on the way. When it was announced back in 2020, the Lando project was going to be a TV show he had tons of questions about. The latest is it’s going to be a movie instead, with Glover’s brother and Atlanta collaborator on board as well. 

You can check out Billy Dee Williams' memoir What Have We Here? when the new book arrives on February 13.  

Lost may have taken place on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but with flashbacks, flashforwards, and sideways flashes, there were a lot of roles to fill. Some amazing actors augmented the main Lost cast brilliantly and we bet you've probably forgotten many of them. Here is a list of those actors you've probably forgotten appeared on Lost.

Allison Janney

Years before she played the titular mother on the sitcom Mom with Ana Faris, Allison Janney played a completely different kind of mother on Lost. That was her character’s name, in fact, Mother. She was appropriately mother (or adoptive mother, more accurately) to Jacob and the Man in Black on The Island. Before their arrival, she was the only inhabitant of The Island. Of Janney’s many superb roles, the one she is most famous for is CJ Cregg on The West Wing

Michael Cudlitz

You might know him best for Band Of Brothers where he played Bull Randleman, or maybe from The Walking Dead where he was loved as the tragic Abraham Ford. But you might probably don’t remember him as Ana Lucia’s (Michelle Rodriguez) partner in the LAPD, and later a detective interrogating Hurley. His character, Mike Walton, only showed up in two characters, but you still root for him, just like always. 

Billy Dee Williams

One of the most controversial episodes of Lost is “Expose” from Season 3, better known as the “Nikki and Paulo episode.” The plot centered around two previously unknown survivors and plays out much like an episode of The Twilight Zone. Overshadowed in the online arguments over the episode’s place in the show was that Nikki’s flashbacks showed her as an actress on a show, also called “Expose,” where she co-starred with Billy Dee Williams, who plays himself in the episode.  

Katey Sagal

What can we say about the great Katey Sagal that hasn’t already been said? With hits like Sons Of Anarchy, Married…With Children, and as part of the cast of Rebels on her resume, she’ll be remembered forever. Less remembered is her brief four-episode character arc as a love interest of John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) in flashbacks named Helen Norwood. 

Tamara Taylor

Over 12 seasons of Bones, Tamara Taylor became a household name. Taylor is less remembered for her wonderful portrayal of Susan Lloyd, mother of Walt, in two episodes in Season 1 and 2. She’s also appeared on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Law & Order: Organized Crime, and scores of other shows. 

William Atherton

Nobody in Hollywood plays a smug jerk like the great William Atherton. Whether it’s the EPA agent in Ghostbusters or the reporter in Die Hard, Atherton has an amazing ability to be the guy you love to hate. He plays a similar role in one episode of Lost, as Principal Donald Reynolds. Reynolds is the principal (and an antagonist to Ben Linus) in Episode Seven of the show's final season. 

Cheech Marin

For an actor who started out doing teenage stoner humor, Cheech Marin has built an incredible career for himself. He was the perfect actor to take on the role of David Reyes, Hugo’s father with an amazing wig, in three episodes in flashbacks to Hugo’s childhood. 

Željko Ivanek

Željko Ivanek is an actor with an uncanny ability to play characters that are slimy and shady. He’s brilliant at it. On Lost, he plays such a character, as Juliet’s ex-husband in Season 3, until he meets an untimely demise. Outside of Lost, he’s an accomplished actor who won an Emmy for his role in Damages and also starred in Madame Secretary and Homicide: Life On The Streets. 

Rob McElhenney

Rob McElhenney was already a big deal when he showed up on Lost as Aldo, one of The Others, who was guarding the Hydra Station when we first met him. Always Sunny In Philadelphia was a hit when he made his appearance on Lost, and the future owner of Wrexham FC (and star of the TV show Welcome To Wrexham) made the most of his character’s three-episode arc, showing he could be more than just Mac on Always Sunny. 

Lance Reddick

Lance Reddick was beloved for his roles in the John Wick movies, as well as his turn as Lt. Cedric Daniels on The Wire. The late Reddick also spent a little time on Lost, playing the shadowy Matthew Abaddon, an employee of Charles Widmore whose job it is to make sure the correct people end up on The Island. Though Reddick only appeared in four episodes over Seasons 4 and 5, it was a crucial role.  

Dean Norris

Long before he became a household name playing Hank Schrader on Breaking Bad, Dean Norris guest starred on one episode of Lost. In Episode 13 of Season 5, Norris plays a grieving father who hires Miles Straume (Ken Leung) to contact his deceased son.  

Bruce Davison

Bruce Davison is the kind of actor who shows up in everything and is always first-rate when he does. Davison has an astonishing 281 acting credits listed on IMDB, so it’s no surprise he found his way onto Lost where he played the doctor at the mental institution where Hurley was a patient for two episodes in Season 6. 

DJ Qualls

DJ Qualls is probably best known for playing Kyle in Road Trip but his career has been busy for a long time. Including an episode in Season 2 of Lost, where he plays Hugo’s work buddy from Mr. Cluck’s, Johnny, in a flashback. 

Greg Grunberg

It’s no surprise that since Lost was produced by J.J., Abrams that Greg Grunberg would make an appearance. Grunberg, whose friendship with Abrams goes back decades, almost always pops up somewhere in movies and shows directed by Abrams, and Lost is no exception. Grunberg plays the role of the airplane pilot in the very first episode of the show and appears later in the show's run on a TV screen showing a news report of the plane crash. 

Jon Gries

Appearing in seven episodes, as Ben Linus’ (Michael Emerson)  father, Roger, is veteran actor Jon Gries. Gries has been a working actor since the 1980s, appearing in movies like Real Genius and The Monster Squad, but he’s best known for his role as Uncle Rico in Napolean Dynamite and for playing Tanya’s husband, Greg Hunt, in The White Lotus. 

Robin Weigert

Robin Weingert was part of the amazing cast of Deadwood, playing one of the most-remembered characters, Calamity Jane. She is less remembered for her brief three-episode run on Lost. Weingert plays Juliet's (Elizabeth Mitchell) sister, who has cancer and whom Juliet is treating. Her third appearance on the show is little more than a video, of sorts, that is shown to Juilet on The Island. 

Saïd Taghmaoui

French actor Saïd Taghmaoui has appeared in films and TV all over the world. His first appearance in a U.S. movie was David O. Russell’s Three Kings in 1997, where he played an Iraqi Army officer. Since then, Taghaoui has appeared in numerous movies including John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Wonder Woman. On Lost, Taghmaoui was on Ajira Flight 316 in Season 6 which was meant to return Jack and the others to The Island. 

Fisher Stevens

It’s hard to wrap your head around that Fisher Stevens’ career goes all the way back to the Short Circuit movies in the ‘80s, but it has. In the 20-teens, Stevens became a regular in Wes Anderson movies, like The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch. On Lost Stevens played a member of the crew on Charles Widmore’s freighter named George in six episodes. 

Julie Bowen

In five of Jack Shephard’s (Matthew Fox) flashbacks over the first three seasons, viewers meet his ex-wife, Sarah, played by Julie Bowen. A few years later, Bowen would star in one of the biggest sitcoms of the 2000s as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family.

Robert Patrick

The liquid Terminator himself, Robert Patrick, starred in one episode in Season 1 of Lost. Naturally, he plays a shady character who worked in the past with Sawyer on “The Tampa Job.” Patrick’s character, Hibbs, attempts to convince Sawyer that Sawyer’s father is living in Australia, hoping Sawyer will kill him. Patrick was quite famous by the time of his guest-starring turn, but people forget he was on at all because Hibbs never returned to the story. 

Samantha Mathis

For people in Generation X, Pump Up The Volume (1990) was a momentous film, and a big reason why was Samantha Mathis, who made her film debut in the movie. Since then she’s kept very busy in Hollywood, including as a regular performer in Stephen King adaptations. She also played a young Ben Linus’ schoolteacher in Episode 20 of Season 3, when Linus arrived on the island as a kid with his father. 

Brett Cullen

Brett Cullen’s first big break came on the 1980s show Falcon Crest, where he played Dan Fixx. He’s shown up in dozens of shows and movies since, including The West Wing and Person Of Interest. Cullen has also shown up in two Batman-related movies. He plays a congressman in The Dark Knight Rises and he plays Thomas Wayne in The Joker. Cullen played Goodwin Stanhope on Lost for five episodes. 

Swoosie Kurtz

Swoosie Kurtz has been appearing on television since 1962 when she was just 17 years old. More than 40 years later, she appeared on two episodes of Lost. Playing John Locke’s biological mother, she isn’t the most likable character, but she should be better remembered because her performance was great. 

Kim Dickens

Sawyer conned a lot of people over his career, but one of the most intriguing was Cassidy Phillips, played by Kim Dickens. She learns the trade from him and later ends up befriending Kate. Dickens is also known for Fear The Walking Dead, Treme, and Deadwood, in addition to roles in the films Gone Girl and The Blind Side. 

Hiroyuki Sanada

Hiroyuki Sanada has been in some of the biggest franchises in American film, including appearing in the MCU and John Wick 4. That’s all after having a huge career in Hong Kong and his native Japan. Sanada appeared in four episodes of Season 6 of Lost as Dogan. 

Saul Rubinek

Canadian Saul Rubinek has had supporting roles in some of the biggest movies of all time, including Unforgiven in 1992, and Wall Street in 1987. In 2005 Rubinek appeared in the second episode of the the second season of Lost as the attorney for Micheal (Harold Perrineau) in his legal battle to keep his son Walt’s mother from moving him to Italy. 

Mark Pellegrino

Mark Pellegrino has been in dozens of movies and even more TV shows over the years. As part of the main role in American Rust, Pellegrino finally started getting the stardom he’s long deserved. He’s been in movies like The Big Lebowski, National Treasure, Capote, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Mullholand Drive. He also starred as the mysterious Jacob on Lost. 

Kevin Tighe

Kevin Tighe’s career stretches way back to the ‘70s and the criminally underrated TV show Emergency!, On Lost, the Road House star played Locke’s father Anthony Cooper, who was a conman who was also the likely inspiration for James Ford (Josh Holloway)  taking the name “Sawyer”, as Cooper conned Sawyer’s mother when Sawyer was a kid. 

John Hawkes

One of the most aptly named characters on Lost was Lennon, because he’s the spitting image of John Lennon in the late ‘60s, with the round wire glasses and everything. Lennon is played by John Hawkes, who is probably best known for playing Sol on Deadwood. He’s also been in a lot of movies, including 2010’s Winter’s Bone, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. 

Kevin Chapman

Kevin Chapman is great at playing a tough guy. On TV shows like Person of Interest and movies like The Boondock Saints, or on Lost, where he played Mitch, one of the security people for the DHARMA Initiative on The Island, he never is a guy you'd want to mess with. 

Michelle Rodriguez

Michelle Rodriguez was a cast member on Lost for most of Season 2, though people seem to forget she was a pivotal part of the show as the LAPD cop Ana Lucia. Though she met a tragic end, Ana Lucia would pop back up a few seasons later in a sideway flash in Season 6 and she would appear to Hurley in hallucination in Season 5. 

Shawn Doyle

Shawn Doyle plays a big role in the first three seasons of The Expanse, playing a UN official. He’s also appeared in dozens of other TV shows, including one episode of Lost. Doyle plays an attorney defending Kate, played by Ant-Man and it’s sequels star Evangeline Lilly. 

Lost was one of the most talked about shows in TV history, but somehow it was filled with wonderful performances by actors you’ve probably forgotten were even on the show. 

While Star Wars fans are looking forward to the  Ahsoka TV show hitting Disney+ later this month, there are a lot of upcoming Star Wars movies and TV planned for the months and years ahead. Some of them, like The Acolyte, will introduce us to brand new characters, while other projects will see the return of previously established characters. And now it looks like one of the OG Star Wars heroes may be on his way back as Billy Dee Williams, the original Lando Calrissian, is teasing something Star Wars related. So his Lando may be one of character we'll see again.

Billy Dee Williams is exceedingly vague in his announcement tweet, saying simply that “something” is coming. He’s involved in some sort of project that he calls a “dream come true,” which certainly makes it sound like a big deal. And while the actor doesn’t give us many indications of what he’s talking about, he does end the post by saying “May the Force be with you” seemingly confirming that whatever this is, it’s Star Wars related. Read his full post below.

The most obvious connection to draw here is that Billy Dee Williams has closed a deal to return to the galaxy far, far away as Lando Calrissian in some capacity. He previously reprised the role from the original trilogy in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Considering that we recently learned that the previously announced Lando series for Disney+,which had seemingly died was back on (with Donald Glover set to not only star but write) it’s hard not to believe there’s a connection.

Just because we expect Donald Glover’s younger version of Lando to be the main focus of any Disney+ series doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for Billy Dee Williams. It would be easy enough to use the older Lando as a framing device, setting up the episodes of the show as flashbacks. Or perhaps we could get a story set in two different time periods that seems Lando dealing with a related adventure as a young and older man. 

Of course, just because of the timing, it doesn’t mean Billy Dee Williams will be back in the new series. Disney has yet to confirm the news regarding the new Lando series at all, and it seems pretty early to be signing on the cast for the project, especially considering there’s a WGA strike happening right now, and so nobody is going to actually be writing any episodes for the time being. 

Perhaps the actor will be bringing Lando to life in some other Star Wars project. Or it could be unrelated to Lando Calrissian directly. Maybe Billy Dee Williams is going to narrate a Star Wars documentary. The actual possibilities are nearly endless. Based on Williams’ post, it sounds like we’ll be hearing about what’s going on before too long. 

There are some movie characters so iconic and so strongly tied to the actor who plays them that to recast them with anyone else would be sacrilege. Although many examples of this kind of role exist in the Star Wars universe, that has not prevented such an event to happen to its most beloved characters many times.

However, luckily, many of the Star Wars characters who have been recast have been blessed with people of tremendous talent to carry the weight -- and sometimes to even greater heights than ever before. See for yourself with our favorite examples of live-action characters from a galaxy far, far away who are credited to more than one actor, starting with one who is making a huge comeback with his own series.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness, Ewan McGregor)

We first met Obi-Wan Kenobi years after the fall of the Jedi Order in the original Star Wars: A New Hope from 1977, in which he was played brilliantly by Academy Award winner Alec Guinness. Playing his younger self from padawan to master would be Ewan McGregor, whom fans would cite as one of the best reasons to watch the Prequel Trilogy and later welcome his return on the Disney+ original series Obi-Wan Kenobi with open arms.

Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher, Vivian Lyra Blair)

One of Ewan McGregor’s most impressive co-stars on Obi-Wan Kenobi is Bird Box’s “Girl” actor Vivien Lyra Blair, who gives a surprisingly entertaining and heartfelt performance as 10-year-old Leia Organa, who has been kidnapped by the Empire in order to lure the titular Jedi out of hiding. Star Wars fans are very familiar with the character, originally portrayed by the late Carrie Fisher, who portrayed Leia starting from the beginning of the Star Wars saga, up until her final performance in 2017’s The Last Jedi.

Owen Lars (Phil Brown, Joel Edgerton)

Another Star Wars prequel trilogy veteran reprising his role alongside Ewan McGregor on Obi-Wan Kenobi is Australian actor and filmmaker Joel Edgerton as Luke Skywalker’s uncle, Owen Lars. The Tatooine moisture farmer would meet a devastating end at the hands of the Empire in the 1977 original film, in which he was portrayed - opposite Mark Hamill - by Phil Brown. Brown also starred in franchises like the Superman movies and one of the Pink Panther sequels, but would always be best known as Uncle Owen.

Beru Lars (Shelagh Fraser, Bonnie Piesse)

Playing Owen Lars’ wife, Beru, was English actress Shelagh Fraser, who gives one of the most heartfelt performances in Star Wars: A New Hope despite her modest amount of screen time. Of course, Bonnie Piesse had even less screen time and less to say as a teenage Beru, but is still a memorable presence in the prequels due to the importance of her role, which is why she has also makes a return on Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Mon Mothma (Caroline Blakiston, Genevieve O’Reilly)

Another actress with a modest amount of screen time in the Prequel Trilogy (namely 2005’s Revenge of the Sith) is Genevieve O’Reilly as the future leader of the Rebel Alliance, Mon Mothma, whom she would reprise in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Originating the role was Caroline Blakiston, whose screen time was also quite brief in 1983’s Return of the Jedi, but still memorable and iconic enough inspire such an enduring legacy.

Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch, Daniel Logan, Temuera Morrison)

A character whose legendary status vastly outweighs his screen time is the mysterious bounty hunter Boba Fett, who was first physically played by the late Jeremy Bulloch in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and voiced by Jason Wingreen in the former movie. We met Boba as a young boy in 2002’s Attack of the Clones, as played by New Zealand-born actor Daniel Logan, and his father, Jango, played by fellow New Zealander Temuera Morrison, who would go on to assume the fan-favorite role himself on The Mandalorian and on his own Disney+ miniseries, The Book of Boba Fett. Morrison's Boba has also been heard in Empire instead of Wingreen's since the 2004 edits to the Original Trilogy.

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Sebastian Shaw, Jake Lloyd, Hayden Christensen, Spencer Wilding)

A Star Wars veteran making, arguably, the most exciting return on the Obi-Wan Kenobi cast is Hayden Christensen as the Sith Lord formerly known as Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader - a role he also shares on the series with James Earl Jones, who has voiced the iconic villain since the beginning. David Prowse would usually wear the suit, save when Sebastian Shaw played a reformed, unhelmeted Anakin at the end of Return of the Jedi and when Spencer Wilding donned the costume in Rogue One. Jake Lloyd played a very young, uncorrupted Anakin in 1999’s The Phantom Menace before Christensen took over the role to play him as a Padawan and, later, a Jedi Knight in the final two prequels.

Emperor Palpatine (Clive Revill, Marjorie Eaton, Ian McDiarmid)

Younger Star Wars fans likely just know Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine, but those who experienced the original trilogy in its prime remember how different Darth Vader’s boss first looked and sounded in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back when his holographic image was physically portrayed by Marjorie Eaton and voiced by Clive Revill. The role was recast for 1983’s Return of the Jedi with McDiarmid, who went on to reprise him in the prequel trilogy and 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker and was added into the 2004 re-release of Empire.

Han Solo (Harrison Ford, Alden Ehrenreich)

To Star Wars fans of any generation, Han Solo is and always will be Harrison Ford, who was still working as a carpenter when his American Graffiti director George Lucas cast him as the captain of the Millennium Falcon in the first Star Wars. However, the Academy Award nominee himself was said to be very impressed by Alden Ehrenreich’s performance in the title role of 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, which traces the outlaw’s origins from serving the Imperial Army to winning his famed ship in a poker game from another familiar face.

Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams, Donald Glover)

One would assume that no one else could ever play Lando Calrissian - the mayor of the Cloud City and old friend of Han Solo (despite pronouncing his name wrong) - with as much charm and charisma as Emmy nominee Billy Dee Williams. However, Emmy and Grammy winner Donald Glover proved that was not the case by absolutely nailing his portrayal of the smuggler-turned-resistance leader while he still owned the Millennium Falcon in Solo. 

Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew, Joonas Suotamo)

Another actor who would portray a legendary original Star Wars character was Joonas Suotamo, whose tenure as Han Solo’s Wookiee friend and co-pilot, Chewbacca, began when he shared the role with its originator, the 7’3” Peter Mayhew, in 2015’s The Force Awakens. The Finnish basketball player took over the role completely for 2017’s The Last Jedi and reprised him in Solo and The Rise of Skywalker, but the first name fans still associate Chewie with is Mayhew, who sadly passed away at the age of 74 in 2019.

On second thought, there could come a day when Joonas Suotamo is celebrated for his portrayal of Chewbacca just as strongly as Peter Mayhew, just like how Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness are equally praised for their respective performances as Obi-Wan Kenobi. In a franchise as endurable as Star Wars, a dizzying rotation of different people in the same part eventually becomes a necessity, so each actor should be held to the same fair standard. Therefore, in my book, there is not just one Lando, or one Boba Fett, or even one Han Solo (and I say that as a huge Harrison Ford fan), but a wonderful assortment of different depictions to revisit time and time again. 

There are few franchises quite as popular as Star Wars, with generations of moviegoers brought up on the galaxy far, far away. The nine-film Skywalker Saga ended with J.J. Abrams’ The Rise of Skywalker, which featured the long-awaited return of Billy Dee Williams. It turns out that Episode IX could have given Lando Calriassian an awesome weapon, and we can see the design now.

After being noticeably absent for the first two installments of the sequel trilogy, fans were delighted to see Lando Calrissian finally appear in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, with Billy Dee Williams playing his iconic role. But he could have been even more badass with a sweet wrist-crossbow. Check it out below,

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker may have hit theaters years ago, but the revelations about J.J. Abrams’ blockbuster are still coming. And this concept art for Lando’s abandoned weapon has the potential to inspire some serious FOMO. Now I’m eager to know exactly how he might have acquired his own Mandalorian armor.

The above image comes to us from the Instagram of concept artist Matthew Savage. He’s worked on a number of major blockbusters, helping directors and prop departments to find their visual language. Other credits include The Batman, Rogue One, and the upcoming Halo TV series. Unfortunately, this particular design never made its way to the silver screen.

While Mandalorian culture and armor has become extremely popular thanks to shows on Disney+, Lando getting his own gauntlet would have preceded those streaming successes. But this scrapped weapon is all the more intriguing thanks to The Mandalorian, teasing the many years of Lando’s life which still remain unaccounted for. After all, we’re not sure what happened to Billy Dee Williams’ charming character after Return of the Jedi until he eventually showed up in The Rise of Skywalker.

Lando had fairly limited time in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but he definitely made an impact. After a brief meeting with the trio of heroes in the first act, Lando would once again pilot the Millennium Falcon in the final battle, bringing a cavalry of Resistance ships to take on the First Order. So perhaps we could have seen his sweet crossbow gauntlet used in his first scene on the desert planet of Pasaana. 

The ending of The Rise of Skywalker teased that Lando was about to take a new adventure alongside Naomi Ackie’s newcomer Jannah. But it’s unclear if we’ll ever actually get to see this partnership on either the small or silver screens. Additionally, some fans are still hoping that Solo 2 happens, allowing Donald Glover another opportunity to play young Lando. Fans also want to see him reprise his role in the developing Lando TV series. 

The Star Wars franchise continues to grow thanks to shows on Disney+, while fans wait for updates about the developing movies. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

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As Star Wars continues to expand, so does its presence on Disney+. The streamer is primed to become the home of the storied franchise’s TV content for years to come, which is an exciting prospect. And, like Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm is using this opportunity to highlight fan-favorite characters by giving them their own projects. This includes the shady and smooth Lando Calrissian, who’s getting his own self-titled show. Yes, the Lando TV show should be a sweet addition to the lore, but, at this point, we still have plenty of questions about it.

Lando was originally announced late last year during the Lucasfilm portion of Disney’s Investor Day livestream. So far, all we know is that the project has been set as an event series, with Dear White People creator Justin Simien crafting the story. There are a number of possible directions the series can go, and this spurs a number of key questions. Now, let’s take a look at those queries we have about Lando’s solo TV show:

What Is Lando’s Disney+ Premiere Date?

As previously mentioned, the Star Wars franchise has a number of new Disney+ shows arriving within the next few years, and many don’t have official release dates as of yet. So, it’s hard to pinpoint when Lando might see the light of day. One thing that appears likely, though, is that it won’t be showing up on the streaming platform this year. A 2022 release date also seems unlikely, given that the show hasn’t even started shooting yet. With so little information on the show at this time, one can assume Lando is still in the early stages of development. But, who knows, maybe we’ll at least get a rough release date at Disney+ Day this November.

When Will Lando Officially Start Filming?

There are upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows in various stages of production at the moment. On the TV side of things, Andor is shooting in the UK as of August 2021, while Obi-Wan Kenobi has been shooting in Los Angeles. Additionally, The Mandalorian is set to begin production on Season 3 relatively soon. Seeing as Lando hasn’t even announced cast members yet, there’s a chance that there’s still a ways to go before the cameras start rolling. If we’re thinking optimistically, the show could begin production sometime in 2022, which (factoring in the amount of time needed on a project of this scale) would put it on track to release in 2023.

How Many Episodes Will The Series Have?

It’s only natural for us to wonder how many installments we can expect in Lando Calrissian’s upcoming show. As an event series, it’s likely that Lando won’t have a large number of episodes. Fellow event series Obi-Wan Kenobi is set to have six episodes, so that seems like a logical number for Lando. However, it’s also possible that it could run a little longer, like The Mandalorian. In its first two seasons, that show has aired eight-episode seasons and is likely to continue that trend. But regardless of which way Lando skews, it’s fair to expect the episode total to be nice and tight.

How Does Lando Fit Into The Star Wars Timeline?

The Star Wars timeline is vast, yet the folks at Lucasfilm have mostly managed to keep things organized. So far, the TV shows have been placed in very specific pockets of time. The Mandalorian takes place five years after Return of the Jedi, and Obi-Wan Kenobi picks up 10 years after Revenge of the Sith and a decade ahead of A New Hope. Because Lando Calrissian has such a rich history in the franchise, the producers have options when it comes to the show’s place in the timeline. It could focus on a younger Lando or (and this is probably unlikely) an older version of the character. And, this brings us to our next question.

Who Will Play Lando Calrissian On The Disney+ Show?

At this point, Lando has been played by two actors in live-action Star Wars projects. The great Billy Dee Williams originated the role back in The Empire Strikes Back and most recently reprised it in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. But, ahead of his return, Donald Glover played a younger version of the scoundrel in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. While either actor would be a perfect lead, it’s more likely that Glover would be the prime candidate. Even before the series was officially announced, rumors emerged last year, and they alleged that the Atlanta star would reprise his role in a Disney+ show. Glover certainly feels like a shoo-in but, then again, we’ve been surprised before.

Will Other Major Star Wars Characters Make Appearances?

It’s definitely not uncommon for familiar Star Wars characters to show up in new projects. The Mandalorian Season 2 alone is sheer evidence of that, as it featured the likes of Boba Fett, Bo-Katan Kryze and Ahsoka Tano. Even Obi-Wan Kenobi will see Hayden Christensen return as Darth Vader. Lando’s timeframe would dictate which veteran characters would return. Should the series go with Donald Glover’s younger iteration of the character, it could feature characters seen in Solo. Alden Ehrenreich’s Han Solo and Chewbaca would be prime candidates, or even Emilia Clarke’s Qi’ra.

Will Lando Have Multiple Directors Like The Mandalorian?

Justin Simien may be scripting Lando, but he’s also an accomplished director, as evidenced by his work on Dear White People. So, he may also be helming episodes as well and, if Lucasfilm is approaching Lando like it is Obi-Wan Kenobi, he could be the only director. However, there’s also the possibility that the studio opts to bring in several directors, as it has with The Mandalorian. It would, honestly, be great to see a variety of filmmakers join the project. And, with Calrissian being an African-American character, it would really be nice to see some directors of color sign on, if Lucasfilm is indeed looking to hire multiple creatives.

Despite the fact that very little is known about Lando at this point, the mere idea of the character getting his own show is enough to get one excited. We’ll be waiting (im)patiently to hear more on this Star Wars show.

Everyone loves a good throwback, and that goes double if Star Wars is involved. Mark Hamill doesn’t seem to be lacking in the throwback department, and you just know when he shares an old photo chances are there are some familiar and iconic faces. This time, Hamill has shared a hilarious prank that Billy Dee Williams (who plays Lando in the Star Wars franchise) played on him back when the two were much younger during a royal family visit. And the throwback photo captures the prank’s payoff moment perfectly.

For someone who is almost 70, Mark Hamill is pretty deft with his social media skills. I guess being a part of such an iconic, high-tech franchise like Star Wars has helped the star keep pretty on top of his social media updates, because he keeps sharing insightful and funny stories about his time with the franchise. This time he dropped a story about the time Billy Dee Williams told him he couldn’t look royalty in the eye without getting beheaded on his Twitter. You can check out the funny exchange, along with the perfectly paired photo, in his Tweet below:

I feel like this photo is straight out of a time capsule. Mark Hamill and Billy Dee Williams look like they just stepped out of their Star Wars costumes from The Empire Strikes Back and slipped into a tux for a visit with the royal family. We can also see Frank Oz (AKA the voice of Yoda) watching alongside Williams (hopefully in on the joke as well) as Hamill shakes the hand of a royal with a bowed head, refusing to meet her gaze.

Mark Hamill would have probably been in his late twenties when this photo was taken, but honestly he looks like an awkward teenager meeting his girlfriend’s parents for the first time. We can see Billy Dee Williams enjoying this odd exchange in the background with a subtle side-eye, and he looks really pleased with his work here.

Fans are absolutely eating this throwback up, and they’re giving major props to Billy Dee Williams for creating such a funny scenario. One common trend in the comments is comparing this real-life situation from years ago to the moment in the MCU where Bruce Banner and Rhodey talk about whether they should bow to Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther, seeing as he is the king of Wakanda, and the moment that follows when the king stops them, saying “We don’t do that here”. While different franchises, the two have respect for each other and the comparison is pretty spot on.

I didn’t really need any more evidence to the fact that Billy Dee Williams is one of the coolest men to exist, but I definitely welcome this little story to back that idea up. The original cast of Stars Wars, like Mark Hamill and Williams, were pretty tight, and it’s awesome to see some of the interactions and pranks they pulled on one another, and the fact that they were ballsy enough to do it around royals is pretty awesome.

There was once a time when a legion of angry comic book fans had zero faith in the idea of casting Michael Keaton as Batman and another when moviegoers assumed that no one could ever top Jack Nicholson’s performance as The Joker. In the following years since, the live-action Batman movies have become subject to many major shifts in style and opinion, but one belief that remains widely accepted is that 1989’s Batman cast was an inspired choice to represent director Tim Burton’s vision of Gotham City. 

The shadow cast by the Dark Knight has not fully disappeared for some of these performers as you will see from the following breakdown of what the cast of one of the best superhero movies of all time has been up to. We shall start with the actor many fans thought Batman did not deserve, but would eventually hope to see in the role again.

Michael Keaton (Bruce Wayne/Batman) 

After proving haters wrong in the title role of two of the best Tim Burton movies – Batman and Batman Returns – Michael Keaton (whose real name is Michael Douglas) later satirized comic book movies with his Academy Award-nominated role in the Best Picture Oscar winner, Birdman. He returned to the genre with 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming as one of the best Spider-Man movie villains, the Vulture and, following his Emmy win for leading Hulu’s Dopesick cast, made an awesome return as Batman in The Flash in 2023. 

Whether or not Keaton will return in any upcoming DC movies remains undetermined, but we do know he is reprising the title role of Beetlejuice 2, directed and stars in Knox Goes Away (which premiered at TIFF in 2023), and, is set to star in Goodrich opposite Mila Kunis. Outside of acting, he has partnered with a construction company in his native Pittsburgh to develop green building solutions.

Jack Nicholson (Jack Napier/The Joker) 

The man behind The Joker in 1989’s Batman, Jack Nicholson, has been retired from acting since he appeared in the 2010 rom-com, How Do You Know. Before then, however, he would reunite with Burton and give one of his most underrated performances for the 1996 sci-fi comedy, Mars Attacks!, win his third Oscar for As Good As It Gets, and star in one of Martin Scorsese’s best movies, The Departed, in 2006. While we may have seen the last of the icon’s acting talents, the long-time basketball fan was more recently depicted in HBO’s 1980s-set series about the L.A. Lakers, Winning Time, as portrayed by Max E. Williams.

Kim Basinger (Vicki Vale)

Ambitious photo journalist Vicki Vale is traditionally a redhead in the comics. However, the blonde Kim Basinger was one of the top actors of her generation when cast in Batman ’89 after (technically) being a Bond girl in 1983’s Never Say Never Again and sharing on-screen romances with Mickey Rourke (9-1/2 Weeks) and a pre-Die Hard Bruce Willis (Blind Date). 

She continued to achieve great success throughout the '90s (notably her Oscar-winning role in the masterful period crime thriller L.A. Confidential), the early 2000s (such as playing Eminem’s mom in 8 Mile), and more recently the Fifty Shades movies as the seductive antagonist, Elena Lincoln. In 2021, Basinger would lend her voice to the animated short Back Home Again, and the video game, Crime Boss: Rockay City, in 2023.

Robert Wuhl (Alexander Knox)

To get the scoop on Batman, Vale partners with reporter Alexander Knox, which is probably Robert Wuhl’s biggest role to date. Then again, he previously starred in the Robin Williams classic Good Morning Vietnam and one of the best sports movies, Bull Durham. Of course, it would be shameful to forget about his run as the title character of the HBO comedy Arli$$ (which he also created). 

The two-time Emmy winner (both for co-writing Billy Crystal’s Oscar host material in the early 1990s) did not reprise his brief role in 1997’s Good Burger in the 2023  sequel, unfortunately, but did reprise his Batman ’89 character for the Arrow-verse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event in 2019. Wuhl also appeared in When George Got Murdered – a 2021 drama about George Floyd – voiced himself on American Dad! for the fifth time in 2023, and his comedy, Ellipses and Semi-Colons, is in post-production.

Billy Dee Williams (Harvey Dent)

It took nearly three decades for Batman ‘89’s Harvey Dent actor, Billy Dee Williams, to finally play Two-Face (the Gotham City DA’s criminal alter ego), in 2017’s The LEGO Batman Movie. Two years later, in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, he reprised his best known role, Lando Calrissian, whom he has since voiced in a few spin-offs of the Star Wars universe (also in LEGO form). 

The former Colt 45 spokesperson more recently became one of the celebrity guests of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? in 2021 and did an episode of Max’s Sex and the City revival, And Just Like That…, in 2023. That same year, Williams released a memoir called, What Have We Here?

Tracey Walter (Bob The Goon)

According to a DVD featurette, Jack Nicholson recommended that his good friend, Tracey Walter, play the overlooked Batman movie character and Joker's "Number One guy," Bob. The actor is also known for the likes of 1984’s Conan the Destroyer alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger; the sci-fi cult classic, Repo Man, from the same year; the 1991 Oscar-winning drama, Philadelphia, with Tom Hanks, and plenty more brief roles in notable films. 

Walter would later play another villain in a comic book adaptation – the beloved animated series, Teen Titans – and starred in one of the more recent Rob Zombie movies, 31, in 2016. That would also turn out to be one of his last roles, as he hasn't appeared in anything since that year.

Jerry Hall (Alicia)

The character who most closely resembled Harley Quinn before she even debuted in Batman: The Animated Series was Jack Napier’s girlfriend, Alicia, played by Jerry Hall. The model and actor previously made her debut alongside John Travolta in 1980’s Urban Cowboy.

She then went on to appear in small, often unnamed, roles in films like Freejack (starring her then husband, Mick Jagger) or frequently play herself, such as in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie from 2016. Her last known acting credit was a 2018 drama called Hellbent, but, in 2022, she appeared in the Netflix original docuseries, The Andy Warhol Diaries. 

Jack Palance (Carl Grissom)

An inciting incident that actually leads to Napier's clownish transformation is when his affair with Alicia is discovered by her beau and Napier's boss, Carl Grissom. The Gotham City crime lord in Batman was actually one of two villains Jack Palance played in 1989, along with Yves Perret in the Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell-led buddy cop action movie, Tango & Cash. 

Two years later, he would win his sole Academy Award for playing Curly in the western-comedy, City Slickers. Westerns, such as the 1954 classic Shane, were once Palance’s bread and butter before appearing mostly in TV movies by the end of his career until he passed away in 2006 at the age of 87.

Pat Hingle (Commissioner James Gordon)

Also known for acting in westerns before (and even after) he was cast as James Gordon in Batman was Pat Hingle. The actor would go on to reprise the role of the Gotham City Police Commissioner three more times until Batman & Robin bombed and put the franchise on hold in 1997. 

While Gordon is also the character he is best known for, the actor still has his fair share of iconic credits – including Stephen King’s directorial debut, Maximum Overdrive; the Richard Pryor classic, Brewster’s Millions; the 1983 Dirty Harry sequel, Sudden Impact; and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in 2006. The funny Will Ferrell movie would actually see one of Hingle’s final appearances before he passed away at 84 three years later.

Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth)

Also known for being one of the few actors to appear in all four Batman movies from the Burton/Shumacher eras is Michael Gough. His performance as Bruce Wayne’s longtime servant and father figure, Alfred Pennyworth, is considered to be one of the best things about Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, as well. 

The English actor would work with Burton three more times in 1999’s Sleepy Hollow, the not-so-scary "horror" movie, Corpse Bride; and 2010’s Alice In Wonderland, in which he voiced a dodo bird. That would officially be Gough’s last acting credit before he, at 94, passed away in 2011.

While it is sad to reflect on those from the Batman cast whom we have lost, at least we can be thankful to have seen such legendary names help bring the Dark Knight back onto the big screen and into the mainstream with the acclaimed box office smash, which was the most popular movie of 1989. Now, more than three decades later, we still have multiple upcoming Batman movies to look forward to and can only hope they will live up to this classic that still entertains comic book movie fans of all ages.

There’s a disturbance in the Force today. It was announced that the original actor under the helmet of Boba Fett, Jeremy Bulloch, who portrayed the fan-favorite Star Wars character in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, died at the age of 75. The British actor is an unsung hero of the franchise who is being honored today by stars from all corners of the galaxy.

In his short time as Boba Fett, Jeremy Bulloch got to play among the greats of the universe, all of which continue to be important to the legacy of the space opera franchise. First off, the Star Wars account made the announcement official with this:

Boba Fett was nowhere near as complex and fleshed out at the time of his performance, but his role in the films is always one Star Wars fans watch out for and lovingly remember. Mark Hamill, who fought the bounty hunter to the death as Luke Skywalker in an iconic moment in Return of the Jedi, wrote this on Twitter following the news:

It’s a sweet tribute to a colleague that Mark Hamill seems to have fond memories of during their time on set of the George Lucas films nearly 40 years ago. The series’ Lando Calrissian also worked closely with Jeremy Bulloch for the original Skywalker Saga films. Billy Dee Williams wrote this:

Billy Dee Williams recently returned to his iconic role for The Rise of Skywalker and for a voice role in the Disney+ movie The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, among other actors from the live-action cast. He lovingly referred to Jeremy Bulloch as “the best bounty hunter in the galaxy.” Joonas Suotamo, who played Chewbacca in four of the most recent Star Wars films, shared his personal experience with Jeremy Bulloch.

Even though the actor was later replaced by Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett, who recently returned for The Mandalorian to bring to light more details about Jango and Boba, Jeremy Bulloch was still an active part of the Star Wars family by way of conventions. Today, many fans have been sharing their moments with the actor at these fan events. And Suotamo also got to share some moments with him at cons, which were all really friendly. His brief co-star Greg Grunberg, who played Snap Wexley in the Sequel Trilogy, also jumped in with this:

As the Star Wars family has continued to grow, there are more voices to feel the power of the franchise and pay tribute to those before them. Ming-Na Wen, who's been appearing on The Mandalorian as Fennec Shand, also took to Twitter to offer her reaction to the news:

The news comes less than a month after Darth Vader actor, David Prowse, who physically played the villain, died at 85 years old as well. We here at CinemaBlend send our deep condolences and sympathies to Jeremy Bulloch’s family, loved ones and the Star Wars fans.

No one in their right mind would refute Stan Lee’s title as the ultimate king of cameos, having showed up in more superhero movies than anyone else can claim - including the rare DC adaptation once. While the late comic book mogul’s traditional appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe never failed to make us chuckle or bring a smile to our faces, due to the common expectation of his cameos, I almost find it more more memorable and hilarious when a celebrity shows up in a comic book flick when you least expect it.

Sometimes a superhero movie cameo is played earnestly and to served the story directly, such as when Hugh Jackman showed up in X-Men: Apocalypse as “Weapon X” or Neil DeGrasse Tyson providing his cosmic expertise to a deep discussion of the Man of Steel in Batman v. Superman. However, it is always more fun when those brief appearances are played for laughs, such as the Russo Brothers’ many no-longer-so-covert attempts at sneaking as many Community cast alums into their Marvel movies as possible.

Personally, I would not consider those particular superhero movie cameos as ones truly turned out a laugh riot, but there are countless others I that would count as such - not just in their execution but also in the underlying pop culture reference they brilliantly poke fun at. I believe that the following 12 actors and their appearances in films inspired by the pages of Marvel, DC, and even beyond, do fall under that criteria - such as this actor, who was actually the first to play Ant-Man in a live action setting.

Garrett Morris - Old Man In Car (Ant-Man)

In a 1979 episode of Saturday Night Live, host Margot Kidder reprised her role as Lois Lane, who invited fellow superheroes to a party at her and Superman’s apartment, including Ant-Man (Garrett Morris). It was this sketch that inspired Paul Rudd to tap the Not Ready For Primetime Player and for a brief role in his 2015 Ant-Man movie as a man whose car Scott Lang puts a huge dent in during a bewildering test run of Hank Pym’s shrink suit.

Lou Ferrigno - Security Guard (The Incredible Hulk)

The first live action appearance of The Incredible Hulk was also on TV in the late 1970s, as played by Lou Ferrigno, who would not only voice the big, green hero for the MCU, but would appear on camera in both of his solo movies - each time as a security guard. His cameo in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk (which also pays subtle tribute to Bill Bixby, who played Ferrigno’s human alter ego on the original series) is arguably funnier, in which the bodybuilder gets bribed by Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) with pizza for access to Culver University’s lab.

Jennifer Connelly - Karen (Spider-Man: Homecoming)

A fellow alum of 2003’s Hulk who would make a brief, and far more subtle, MCU appearance is Jennifer Connelly as Karen - Peter Parker’s nickname for his Spidey suit’s built-in AI, courtesy of Tony Stark. The banter between Tom Holland and Connelly’s disembodied voice is already one of the most endearingly funny moments in Spider-Man Homecoming, but what really makes this cameo is the fact that the Oscar winner’s real-life husband is Paul Bettany, who voiced Stark’s virtual assistant JARVIS before upgrading to Vision.

Adam Brody - Super Hero Freddy (Shazam!)

Years before the behind-the-scenes drama of 2017’s Justice League, Warner Bros. hired George Miller for an adaptation of the DC superhero team, featuring Adam Brody as The Flash, that never happened. It became one of the most infamous let-downs of the former OC star’s career, which is why his appearance as a grown-up, super-powered Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer) in 2019’s Shazam! is especially satisfying, albeit snicker-inducing.

Billy Dee Williams - Two Face (The LEGO Batman Movie)

Speaking of actors who were robbed of a comic book role opportunity, Billy Dee Williams was cast in Tim Burton’s Batman as Harvey Dent - who was later recast in 1995’s Batman Forever with Tommy Lee Jones as the Gotham DA’s villainous alter ego. The Star Wars actor finally received justice in 2017 when he voiced Two-Face in The LEGO Batman Movie - which I think is at least tied with Killer Croc’s proud declaration to have done “something” (an indictment on his Suicide Squad portrayal) as the animated film’s funniest cameo.

Elon Musk - Himself (Iron Man 2)

A lot of people like to have fun thinking of billionaire tech industrialist Elon Musk as the real-life counterpart of Tony Stark (save the whole superhero thing, of course). The comparison is so on-the-nose, really (even beyond the reality within the MCU), that you cannot help but just laugh at the plausibility of witnessing Stark and the South African-born Tesla founder casually discuss plans for “an electric jet” at a party, just as they do in Iron Man 2 in 2010.

Hugh Jackman - Wolverine (X-Men: First Class)

At a time when no X-Men film felt complete without Wolverine, in 2011, director Matthew Vaughn and co. managed to squeeze Hugh Jackman into the 1960s-set prequel X-Men: First Class for an uncredited appearance that, while extremely brief, remains one of his most memorable in the franchise. When a younger Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) approach the cigar-chomping mutant in a bar, before they can even announce the purpose of their visit, he dismisses them with a tease of the racy language he would use more frequently in Logan.

Brad Pitt - Vanisher (Deadpool 2)

Logan was also heavily ridiculed in Deadpool 2 - the sequel to star Ryan Reynolds' apology for his original portrayal of the Merc with a Mouth (or, more accurately, without one) in X-Men Origins: Wolverine - and was also home to a slew of amazing cameos. Among of the most pleasant surprise appearances in the 2018 action-comedy is the literally, blink-and-you-miss-it reveal of Brad Pitt as invisible X-Force member Vanisher, which was achieved by buying the Fight Club actor some Starbucks coffee, as Reynolds later claimed.

Matt Damon - Redneck #2 (Deadpool 2), Actor Loki (Thor: Ragnarok)

Another Deadpool 2 cameo many did not catch on their first viewing was Matt Damon as a hillbilly explaining his strange toilet tissue aversion to an equally well-disguised Alan Tudyk before a deadly interruption by Cable (Josh Brolin). The Oscar-winner’s more overt, and arguably more hilarious, surprise appearance months earlier in Thor: Ragnarok (as an actor hired by Loki to reenact his “death” in Thor: The Dark World) was also a group effort with Chris Hemsworth’s brother, Luke, playing the God of Thunder and Jurassic Park’s Sam Neill as their father, Odin.

Most Of The X-Men Cast (Deadpool 2)

Speaking of group efforts, just about, the most epic cameo that Deadpool 2 had to offer required the participation of several additional other Marvel movie actors whose absence was jokingly acknowledged in the previous film. That joke was recalled to perfection when Wade Wilson, once again, complains about the lack of X-Men characters in his presence at the Xavier Mansion, unwitting to the fact that Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Storm (Alexandra Shipp), and others are right behind him, but Beast (Nicolas Hoult) closes the door to Xavier’s office before he can notice.

Lynda Carter - Principal Powers (Sky High)

Calling Lynda Carter’s role in Sky High a cameo is honestly a bit of a reach, but she does make a pretty funny reference at one point to her years leading the Wonder Woman TV show in the late 1970s. Not to mention, she does get less screen time in the 2005 Disney flick as Principal Powers, head of the titular school for young superheroes in training, than her co-star Bruce Campbell, who essentially made his superhero character debut as Coach Boomer (a.k.a., Sonic Boom) despite a few earlier, small comic book movie appearances.

Bruce Campbell - Ring Announcer, Snooty Usher, And Maître D’ (Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy)

I bet director Sam Raimi even agrees that no movie of his feels truly genuine without the presence of his iconic Evil Dead franchise star in some capacity, which is why we are hoping to see Bruce Campbell in the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel and why he cameos in all three of Raimi’s Spider-Man movies. From a wrestling host who names Peter Parker’s alter ego in the first film, to an usher who refuses to let him into Mary Jane’s play in Spider-Man 2, and a French restaurant maître d’ in the final installment, you could make an argument for why each of Campbell’s appearances is better than the rest, or even that they get funnier with each movie.

What do you think? Is Bruce Campbell the primary reason you still re-watch Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy often, or do you find the B-movie king’s cameos to be an unwanted distraction in your favorite comic book movie franchise? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on some of the other funny moments that tend to pop up in superhero movies, here on CinemaBlend.

For the longest time, the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special was seen as one of the strangest and most divisive additions to the franchise. And while the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special does involve some pretty out there scenarios (Rey traveling back in time, Emperor Palpatine trying to change the future, the Max Rebo Band), the new Disney+ offering is a lot of fun to share with the whole family.

This is thanks in part to the stellar voice cast, which includes some returning Star Wars greats from the main movies as well as voice actors who made their mark on various animated series and video games from the iconic pop culture staple. If you are in the camp that was wondering who was voicing who throughout the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special and want to be totally sure, you've come to the right place. Here's the voice cast of the latest LEGO Star Wars special and where you've seen, err, heard them before.

Kelly Marie Tran - Rose Tico

Your ears weren't playing tricks on you while watching the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, that is Kelly Marie Tran reprising her role of Rose Tico in the Disney+ special. Tran, who first played the Resistance mechanic-turned-hero in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and then again in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, is front and center throughout the animated title as she helps with Life Day celebrations with her old gang. And admittedly, it's great to see the actress back in the role, especially when it seemed like she wouldn't return to the franchise following backlash from fans following her 2017 debut.

Billy Dee Williams - Lando Calrissian

The great Billy Dee Williams is the second of three familiar Star Wars names who returned for the new holiday special. Williams, who became an international (or intergalactic) superstar with his appearance as the dashing and dastardly Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back and again in Return of the Jedi. Following a 30-year absence from the franchise (but not the public eye), Williams first reprised his famous character in 2014's The Lego Movie, and then again in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Anthony Daniels - C-3PO

Anthony Daniels, who returns as C-3PO in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, had some blunt words about the the original holiday special, which was released 42 years ago today, when discussing the latest Disney+ offering with CinemaBlend, but the veteran actor gives it his all as the iconic protocol droid constantly in the middle of the galaxy's fiercest battles. Daniels has appeared in multiple LEGO Star Wars titles over the years, and even appeared alongside Billy Dee Williams in 2014's The Lego Movie.

Helen Sadler - Rey

Even though it sounds like Daisy Ridley once again brought Rey to life in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, it is actually Helen Sadler voicing Emperor Palpatine's granddaughter in the Disney+ title. Sadler, who has appeared in small roles on shows like True Blood and NCIS over the years, is no stranger to the Star Wars universe, as she previously voiced Rey on LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance Rises and Jyn Erso on Star Wars: Forces of Destiny. Sadler has also provided her voice for multiple Star Wars video games over the years, including Star Wars: Battlefront II.

Jake Green - Poe Dameron

If you thought that was Oscar Isaac returning as Poe Dameron in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, I'm afraid to tell you that it is actually long-time voice actor Jake Green as the cocky Resistance fighter. Green, who has provided his voice for a number of games including Spider-Man: Miles Morales and The Last of Us Part II, has also appeared on shows like Veronica Mars, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Grey's Anatomy over the years.

Omar Miller - Finn

Just like with Rey and Poe, Finn isn't voiced by his original actor, John Boyega, but instead by the talented Omar Miler in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. In addition to being the voice of Raphael, aka Raph, in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and appearing in the live-action CBS comedy The Unicorn, Miller has spent much of the past 18 years showing up in movies like 8 Mile, Miracle at St. Anna, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, but he is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Walter Simmons on CSI: Miami or Charles Greene on Ballers.

Trevor Devall - Emperor Palpatine

The strangely humorous, but nonetheless menacing Emperor Palpatine is voiced by veteran voice actor and podcaster Trevor Devall in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, a role he has served multiple times over the years. This is the fourth Star Wars animated title that has included Devall's voice as the one behind the Sith Lord and perennial thorn in the side of the entire galaxy. Other appearances by Devall's Palpatine include Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales, Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, and Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles. Devall has also voiced characters like Rocket Raccoon and Steve Rogers over the years as well.

Matthew Wood - Kylo Ren

The list of voice actors reprising some of their most famous roles in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special doesn't stop with Trevor Devall's Emperor Palpatine as Matthew Wood once again voiced Kylo Ren in the Disney+ special. Wood previously appeared as the First Order's Supreme Leader on Star Wars Resistance and Lego Star Wars: All-Stars. He has also provided voice work for Star Wars properties going back to 1999's Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace, and has appeared in every theatrical release since then. His biggest role was in 2005's Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith, in which he voiced General Grievous.

Matt Sloan - Darth Vader

James Earl Jones will always be THE voice of Darth Vader, but there is no one who has taken on the role of the fallen Jedi more times than Matt Sloan. Including the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, Sloan has voiced Vader no fewer than a dozen times, including Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and its sequel, The Force Unleashed II, Star Wars Battlefront II, and LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out and LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles.

Matt Lanter - Anakin Skywalker

Matt Lanter is another member of the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special cast who reprises a role they made famous in the past. In the new Disney+ special, Lanter appears once again as Anakin Skywalker, a character he voiced on Star Wars: The Clone Wars (both the movie and subsequent animated television series) starting in 2008. In addition to The Clone Wars, Lanter has voiced Anakin on Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars Forces of Destiny as well as multiple video games ties to the franchise, including Star Wars Battlefront II.

Tom Kane - Qui-Gon Jinn / Yoda

Tom Kane pulls double-duty in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special as Yoda and Qui-Gon Jinn, two roles he's voiced in the past. The new Disney+ title is only the second time Kane has voiced the Jedi knight who found Anakin Skywalker, but the number of times he has appeared as the ancient Jedi master is in the dozens at this point. This includes video games like Star Wars Pinball, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles, as well as shows like Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace, The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Forces of Destiny. Kane also voiced Admiral Ackbar in the first two Sequel Trilogy movies.

James Arnold Taylor - Obi-Wan Kenobi

James Arnold Tayor is no stranger to Star Wars animated projects, especially as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and so it should come as no surprise that he once again lent his voice talents to the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. Taylor's previous appearances include Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and multiple video game adaptations over the years.

Dee Bradley Baker - Clone Trooper

And then there is Dee Bradley Baker, who once again voices various Clone Troopers in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, something the veteran voice actor has been doing since the 2008 premiere of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie. Besides Star Wars, Baker has also voiced Daffy Duck and other characters in Space Jam and other Looney Tunes projects over the years.

That catches us up with the different characters and their voice actors in the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. Did you enjoy the new Disney+ title more than the 1978 original? Let us know in the comments below.

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Star Wars is one of the most iconic franchises of all time, with entire generations of moviegoers brought up on the galaxy far, far away. The nine-film Skywalker Saga ended last December with J.J. Abrams' The Rise of Skywalker, which also marked the end of actors' tenure in the MCU. But it turns out that Kelly Marie Tran will actually reprise her role as Rose Tico in another Star Wars project, alongside some beloved icons from the property.

Kelly Marie Tran made her Star Wars debut in The Last Jedi, with Rose Tico going on an adventure with Finn on Canto Bight. The character had far less screen time in The Rise of Skywalker, partly due to deleted scenes featuring Carrie Fisher's Leia. But it turns out that more of Tran's Rose will appear in Disney+'s upcoming LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special.

Disney+ has become the home for all things Star Wars, including the The Mandalorian. This trend will continue with LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, which is set to arrive on the streaming service next month. The new animated short will focus on the sequel characters including Finn, Rose, Poe as they celebrate a holiday within the Star Wars universe. Meanwhile, Rey will departs for a Jedi temple that will reveal the events of the first two trilogies.

Kelly Marie Tran is joined by some iconic Star Wars talent for Disney+'s upcoming holiday special, including Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Daniels who are playing Lando and C-3PO respectively. The rest of the voice cast includes Tom Kane, James Arnold Taylor, and Dee Bradley Baker, all of whom voiced characters in the Clone Wars animated series.

The Skywalker Saga is currently streaming its entirety on Disney+, which will be the eventual home of the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Disney+ also shared the poster for LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special along with this announcement. While the cast isn't returning in live-action, it's exciting that the upcoming special will feature so many familiar voices. The poster itself is delightful, because who doesn't love LEGOs?

News of the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is sure to be surprising given the franchise's history. Hardcore fans will remember the infamous 1978 live-action event Star Wars Holiday Special, which featured the trio of original heroes alongside Chewbacca in a campy and over the top 98-minutes. The special has been the butt of countless jokes throughout the years, so we'll have to see if the LEGO special pokes fun at the original.

News of Kelly Marie Tran's return to the Star Wars franchise might be surprising, considering how unique her journey through the galaxy far, far away has been. Following Rose Tico's Last Jedi debut, Tran became the subject of intense online bullying, eventually resulting in her departure from social media. Fans eventually came to her support, and took umbrage with Rose's very limited role in The Rise of Skywalker. But now fans will get more of the maintenance worker turned Resistance Leader, this time in LEGO form.

The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special is expected to arrive on Disney+ on November 17th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

Every year comes with its own set of devastating celebrity deaths, and 2020 is no exception to that rule. The latest major heartbreak came this past weekend, when it was revealed that Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman died at age 43 after fighting colon cancer. Boseman was a hero both in front and behind the camera, and his death is heartbreaking for his fans all around the world. Plenty of people have posted their own touching farewells to Boseman, and now Star Wars legend Billy Dee Williams has added his voice to the countless others paying tribute to the late actor.

Black Panther was a major step forward in regards to inclusion, as Black fans were able to see themselves being represented in its cast, crew, music, and dialogue. Billy Dee Williams no doubt understands the importance of representation on screen, as his character Lando was the only principal character of color in the original Star Wars trilogy. The beloved actor shared his thoughts on Chadwick Boseman's passing, saying:

Lando Calrissian has spoken. Chadwick Boseman leaves behind a legacy of work behind him, including his four appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And that legacy extends beyond the movies, as roles like T'Challa had the ability to open minds and make positive change in the world.

Billy Dee Williams' comments come from his personal Twitter page, and puts into context the cultural significance of Chadwick Boseman's career, particularly when it comes to T'Challa. Because while the comic book genre has taken major steps forward in regards to diversity on screen, Black Panther was the first Marvel flick to feature so much Black talent. This obviously includes Boseman himself, who brought the King of Wakanda to life on the big screen and helped to teach young audience members in the process.

Phase Three saw the Marvel Cinematic Universe become a more diverse place, as people of color and women were brought into the forefront in more roles. But Black Panther's success was truly unprecedented, with the movie making over $1 billion dollars and earning a whopping seven Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. Chadwick Boseman's character quickly became a fan favorite hero of the MCU, with a seemingly bright future in the next slate of movies.

But as it was revealed with his death, Chadwick Boseman had been quietly battling colon cancer throughout the past few years. This includes during the long hours filming his myriad silver screen appearances, as well as the travel and hours that come with press tours. Despite his personal struggles, the late actor fully immersed himself into his roles in acclaimed projects like 42, Get on Up, Marshall, and Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods.

Billy Dee Williams isn't the only public figure to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman following his unexpected death at the age of 43. Plenty of his MCU collaborators have spoken out about his talent and spirit, including Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Chris Evans, and Mark Ruffalo. And that's nothing compared to the response from countless fans, who actually made Boseman's announcement break records on social media.

CinemaBlend's thoughts continue to be with Chadwick Boseman's loved ones during this difficult time. Wakanda forever.

Star Wars is arguably the most popular franchise in the film world. The characters in George Lucas' colorful galaxy have captured generations of moviegoers' hearts, especially the cast of the original trilogy. Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian debuted with Empire Strikes Back, and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his style and attitude. A fan recently crafted posters that could have been Lando's spinoff trilogy, and the results are super awesome.

The past few years of the Star Wars franchise have brought Lando Calrissian back to the big screen, to the delight of fans. Solo: A Star Wars Story featured Donald Glover as a young Lando, while Billy Dee Williams finally reprised his role in The Rise of Skywalker. But what could a Lando spinoff look like, if he was given his own franchise following Return of the Jedi? These fan posters show what could have been, check it out below.

FOMO alert. These hypothetical Lando Calrissian movies would have taken place in a time before spinoffs became commonplace. And while they never came to fruition, these images show what Billy Dee Williams could have looked like starring in his own adventures through the galaxy far, far away.

The above fan posters come to us from graphic designer/illustrator Peter Stults, who shared them on his personal Twitter account. Perfectly titled The Clarissian Chronicles, they could have featured Lando's various adventures as a smuggler across the galaxy. And he's definitely had a lot of them, even before he met Han and Chewbacca in Solo.

From the looks of it, the first two movies are a prequel of sorts to his eventual appearance in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. At least if the images are any clue. The third chapter is the only one that includes the likes of Han Solo and Chewbacca on the cover. But the Millennium Falcon is prominently featured in all three hypothetical movie posters. After all, he was the owner of the iconic ship before Han eventually won it in a lucky game of Sabacc.

While some Star Wars fans may wish the Lando Calrissian movies were a reality, at least the character has had an exciting resurgence in the galaxy far, far away. The caped smuggler was noticeably missing from both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi when they hit theaters. In addition to not appearing physically, Lando wasn't even mentioned by any of the characters. Luckily that changed with The Rise of Skywalker.

Billy Dee Williams played his iconic role decades after wrapping on Return of the Jedi. Lando had a small but very important role in the events of Episode IX, helping to bring the cavalry in the final battle against the First Order. It was also suggested that Naomi Ackie's newcomer Jannah.

Donald Glover's younger version of Lando was also the scene stealer of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Unfortunately, the movie's disappointing box office performance resulted in any plans for a sequel being halted.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is available on DVD and Blu-ray now. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ahead!

Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian hadn’t been seen in the proper cinematic Star Wars Saga since 1983’s Return of the Jedi, but he finally made his triumphant return in December’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. He may not be one of the original trio, but Billy Dee Williams is a beloved and important part of this story, and now that it’s come to an end, he’s clearly feeling a bit nostalgic. So the actor posted a sweet throwback with the original Star Wars cast. Check it out:

That’s a good-looking bunch of Rebels right there. Here we see Billy Dee Williams alongside the original lineup of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in a photo that’s presumably from around the time of The Empire Strikes and Return of the Jedi. Little did these four know how long Star Wars would endure and how it would become even more massive than it was even back then.

Billy Dee Williams’ effortless coolness showed no signs of age in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and here in this photo, the actor behind Lando Calrissian is, of course, the coolest and the snazziest dresser. In addition to looking very tiny, Mark Hamill has the wide-eyed look of youth, not unlike Luke Skywalker himself. And Carrie Fisher is sadly gone, but I think many of us will remember her how she looked in this picture, as a fun-loving person who was full of life.

Perhaps the best part of this photo though is Harrison Ford. At best, he has a slight smirk on his face, but a less generous interpretation would be that he’s already over it; a preview of the hilarious prickliness he would later exhibit. Maybe he just found out that despite his pleading, George Lucas wasn’t going to kill off Han Solo. Give it time, young Harrison, you’ll get your wish eventually.

In a particularly sweet sentiment, Billy Dee Williams captions this Twitter image by calling his three Star Wars co-stars friends for life. Clearly the bond Billy Dee Williams forged with these Star Wars actors back in the '80s meant a lot to him and endured for decades until he joined them for another trip to a galaxy far, far away. And they will be his friends for life; long after the Skywalker Saga is put to bed.

Speaking of which, the Skywalker Saga is over, but of the four people in this picture, Billy Dee Williams’ character is the only one that survived the final film, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Lando Calrissian came the rescue of the Resistance on Exegol, bringing with him so many people from around the galaxy to fight the Final Order and put Palpatine in the ground for good.

After the battle, Lando had a conversation with Naomi Ackie’s Jannah, indicating that these two may, and probably do, have a connection. Will we see that connection explored in a future film or Disney+ series? Who knows, but the possibilities seem wide open.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is now playing. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what movies are headed to theaters this year.

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While some may look back on their experience with the modern history of Star Wars with closure and trepidation at best, and pointed remarks in the most extreme cases, not everyone’s experience with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has been a minefield of mixed emotions.

In fact, if you take a look at a recent cache of behind-the-scenes photos from one of the film’s legacy co-stars, Billy Dee Williams, there’s an air of confident swagger and excitement that only he could bring to the table. Check out those awesome photos, complete with one very fitting Star Wars callback:

Showing his favorite on-set moments from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Billy Dee Williams included both photos with himself and the modern faces of Star Wars, as well as some deep cut snaps of himself on set and in the wardrobe chair. Each image shows the man at work, and at play, with the same sort of attitude that’s made him a legend in this landmark franchise.

Through images showing Billy Dee Williams hanging out with Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac, the process of creating what seems like the most controversial Star Wars film to date certainly looks more relaxed and pleasant than the reaction has been thus far. Then again, that’s probably because Williams himself is magic, and he could make the process of filming anything exciting.

And in his photos of iconic character (and newly confirmed father) Lando Calrissian, both his crazy outfit (complete with helmet) from his introduction on Pasaana, as well as his more traditional appearance at the Resistance stronghold on Ajan Kloss, are shown off in a more intimate detail that you wouldn’t find on screen.

It’s Twitter posts like the one Billy Dee Williams has shown us that are good reminders that while the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has been a pretty tempestuous experience, it doesn’t change the fact that a lot of love and camaraderie went into director J.J. Abrams’ stunning conclusion to the Skywalker Saga.

While the future of Star Wars, and its fandom’s attitude towards its existence, are in a period of transition right now, it’s good to know that as far as Billy Dee Williams is concerned, the experience of this final episodic adventure was one hell of a ride. Which is probably a good thing for Disney executives to keep in mind when drafting potential spinoff plans for future films and series.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is currently fully armed and operational in a theater near you. And should you be looking for a new and exciting adventure to start your new year off right, take a look at the 2020 release schedule, and prepare for the future!

Or, you can take Disney+ for a spin through a 7-day free trial, and get closer to the classic Star Wars canon, including Lando’s big moments in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

The last Star Wars trilogy of the Skywalker Saga has been packed full of exciting returns from the original cast, and the last installment will be no exception. Rise of Skywalker will mark Billy Dee Williams’ first time reprising his iconic role of Lando Calrissian since The Return of the Jedi. For the returning actor, he never thought he’d see the day. In Williams’ words:

In the words of his fan-favorite character, Billy Dee Williams likely thought as he grew older the deal would be “getting worse all the time.” Reprising a beloved character is not an opportunity every actor gets decades later. But, here he is donning the cape and turning on Lando’s charm again for the conclusion to the long-running saga.

As Billy Dee Williams told Variety, putting on the blue and yellow costume was an amusing experience for him to go back to. His original appearances as the character only really added up to 15 minutes of screen time, but Lando has since become so much larger than just a supporting character in a Star Wars movie.

Lando was the first black character in the franchise, before Samuel L. Jackson’s Mace Windu, John Boyega’s Finn or upcoming newbie Naomi Ackie’s Jannah joining the universe. Billy Dee Williams gets to share the screen with the crew of new characters fans have been following for the past four years, along with injecting some nostalgia into the runtime.

Additionally, the late Carrie Fisher will reprise her role in the Rise of Skywalker in a “profound” way, as J.J. Abrams recently told CinemaBlend. Even though the Princess Leia actress died before she could see 2017’s The Last Jedi premiere, the filmmakers found a way to add unused footage from The Force Awakens into the scenes of the final film.

But, just how will Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian fit into Rise of Skywalker? He may be pining over not having the Millenium Falcon back in his hands. Per an early image, it looks like Poe Dameron is having a ball test flying Han Solo’s famous ship!

Billy Dee Williams returns to the cape-wearing part after Donald Glover took on the role for 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, but there’s nothing like the original actor returning to a beloved character. Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20. While you wait, take our quiz on which Star Wars movie you should revisit before the upcoming release!

As the final trilogy of the Skywalker Saga has progressed, each new installment has brought fan favorites from the original Star Wars movies back into the mix. The Force Awakens focused on Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher’s Han and Leia, The Last Jedi on Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker, and Rise of Skywalker will bring back Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian.

The actor who first charmed in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 is returning to his iconic role almost 40 years later. He’s now 82 years old. His only worry was how to bring a powerful performance to wrap up Lando’s story and the entire saga. Here’s what he said:

Although we’d hate to think about it this way, Billy Dee Williams approached the return by giving all he had to Lando. Heading into Rise of Skywalker, fans know little about how the captain and sportsman will meet the new generation of rebels, except for released footage of him piloting the Millennium Falcon once again. Or how large his role will be? Some expect he will share lineage with another member of the cast. Could Naomi Ackie’s Jannah be his daughter?

Much like the rest of the cast, Billy Dee Williams isn’t giving anything away. But, here’s how he thought Lando might be doing in his later years:

Only time will tell how close to his prediction Rise of Skywalker will take the character but this sounds about right! Has he joined the Resistance or is he up to his old tricks? As we approach the release of Rise of Skywalker, there cannot possibly be enough Lando. When Esquire asked if the movie is his last planned appearance as the character, here’s what he had to say:

Lando has been a fan-favorite for quite some time! Seeing more of his life and story in Star Wars could certainly be in demand. Even if Billy Dee Williams decides to step down from the role indefinitely, Donald Glover played the character in Solo: A Star Wars Story. What about a Disney+ series in the vein of what’s going on with Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi or Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor from Rogue One?

We’ll have to see how Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian adds to the franchise as it seeks to wrap up the stories of Rey, Kylo Ren, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Princess Leia as well.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20.

The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker final trailer that premiered Monday night was emotional for a lot of reasons, not least of which was that we again got to see Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia in a tender embrace with Rey. It was another subtle reminder that this will be the last time we see the late actress on the big screen in a galaxy far, far away. Following the release of the trailer, Billy Dee Williams posted a touching tribute to Carrie Fisher. Take a look:

A lot of people probably had Carrie Fisher on their minds following the release of the final trailer for the concluding chapter in the Skywalker Saga. And obviously Billy Dee Williams was one of them. The actor, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, was thinking about and remembering Carrie Fisher and threw out some love for the actress he worked with on The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Billy Dee Williams shared a photo of himself and the actress on the set of a Star Wars movie together on Twitter. Based on Carrie Fisher’s hairstyle in the photo, it looks like it was probably 1980’s Empire. Carrie Fisher looks somewhat surprised to be having her photo taken, while Billy Dee Williams of course looks as effortlessly cool as only he can.

In thinking about Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams remembers her as a force to be reckoned with. It’s highly appropriate for the Star Wars icon to be called a ‘Force’ because as we saw in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and might see in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Leia Organa very much had The Force. The sentiment also accurately reflects who Carrie Fisher was in real life.

Long before ‘strong female character’ became a buzzword, Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia was busy saving herself and everyone else in the Original Trilogy, taking no crap and suffering no fools along the way. It was a personality Princess Leia shared with the actress who played her. Carrie Fisher was a pure firecracker, a hilarious and intelligent person with a colorful personality and a foul mouth. A Force to be reckoned with is an apt description.

So it is especially sad that Carrie Fisher is gone and this will be the last time we see her Princess Leia onscreen. Thankfully J.J. Abrams was able to take advantage of unused footage from the previous two Sequel Trilogy films to bring the character back and bring closure to her story and the Skywalker Saga as a whole.

We will likely see many more Carrie Fisher tributes before and after The Rise of Skywalker releases. The film itself already gave her one with the release of the official poster, on which Carrie Fisher gets top billing.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker blasts into theaters on December 20. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all of this year’s biggest movies.

As far as movie franchises go, there are none quite as beloved as Star Wars. George Lucas' colorful world has enthralled moviegoers for decades, beginning with the original trilogy. That set of movies made its cast household names, and they've recently been brought back to return for the sequels. Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian was noticeably missing from the last two main installments, but he'll return to the franchise in J.J. Abrams' The Rise of Skywalker. And he recently posted a photo with the original cast from back in the day.

While he was absent from A New Hope, Lando Calrissian. His allegiances were originally murky, but he became a full-fledged member of the group with Return of the Jedi. Fans of the franchise were disappointed when Lando wasn't seen or mentioned, but his upcoming return is one of the most hotly anticipated aspects of Episode IX. Billy Dee Williams has been hyping up this return, and just posted a photo of the original cast, including the late Carrie Fisher. Check it out below.

I mean, how cool is that? Here you see the foursome of Star Wars actors together, posing playfully and out of their signature costumes. It pulls a curtain back on what it was like to make the original trilogy, a set of movies that would forever be synonymous with their respective careers.

This throwback photo comes from Billy Dee Williams' personal Twitter account. The 82 year-old actor regularly uses Twitter to directly communicate with his generations of fans, and more importantly, to hype up his upcoming appearance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. After a young Lando was introduced in the ill-fated Solo: A Star Wars Story, cinephiles were ready to see the OG actor return to the role. Luckily, that's exactly what's happening this December.

Lando Calrissian was noticeably absent from both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, with his fate being one of the overarching questions looming above the current trilogy. On top of not appearing with The Resistance in their battles against The First Order, Lando wasn't even mentioned during those two blockbusters. So Billy Dee Williams' confirmation and Landos' appearance in the first Rise of Skywalker trailer were especially exciting.

Related: Star Wars: Episode IX's Billy Dee Williams Shows Force Is Still Strong With Lando

Rian Johnson did think about bringing Lando into the story for The Last Jedi, but ultimately decided against it. While moviegoers would have loved to the see the space scoundrel back on the big screen earlier, his inclusion for The Rise of Skywalker will hopefully be even more satisfying. J.J. Abrams will be able to complete the story he began when he kickstarted the franchise back up, as well as the nine-film Skywalker Saga as a whole.

Unfortunately, Billy Dee Williams' return to the Star Wars franchise likely won't include any reunions with the original cast. Harrison Ford's Han Solo was killed off back in The Force Awakens, so that dynamic duo never got to share another scene. Luke perished in Last Jedi, although maybe his Force Ghost will get a moment with Lando. And tragically, Carrie Fisher died before production began on The Rise of Skywalker, with unused footage from the previous two films bringing Leia back for one more appearance.

All will be revealed when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrives in theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Today, it was announced that Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca across five Star Wars movies and numerous other projects, had died earlier this week of a heart attack, just shy of his 75th birthday. This marks yet another passing of a Star Wars icon, and while it’s sad that Mayhew is no longer among us, it’s also touching to see those who worked alongside him paying tribute to the man.

First off, we have Harrison Ford, who acted alongside Peter Mayhew as Han Solo, Chewbacca’s longtime partner, in the original Star Wars trilogy and The Force Awakens. In his statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Ford honored Mayhew not only was a work partner, but as a true friend in real life.

Next, we have Mark Hamill, who also spent a lot of time alongside Peter Mayhew when he was playing Luke Skywalker in the first three Star Wars movies. Hamill said the following:

Then there’s Billy Dee Williams, who joined the Star Wars franchise as Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back and performed alongside Peter Mayhew in that movie and Return of the Jedi. Williams posted:

Following The Force Awakens, Peter Mayhew retired from playing Chewbacca, and Joonas Suotamo, who shared the role with Mayhew in the first installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, has been playing the trusty Wookiee full time ever since. Here’s how Suotamo paid respects to his mentor:

Of course, there wouldn’t be a Star Wars franchise without George Lucas, who discovered Peter Mayhew and personally selected him to play Chewbacca. Lucas paid tribute to Mayhew with the following statement to ABC News:

Then there’s The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, who never worked with Peter Mayhew, but was nonetheless inspired by his work ethic, saying:

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy recognized Peter Mayhew’s impact on the Star Wars franchise thusly:

Finally, Disney CEO Bob Iger mourned Peter Mayhew’s passing with these words:

These are just some of the many reactions you’ll find about Peter Mayhew’s death, both from well-known figures and regular Star Wars fans. While he’s no longer with us, his presence in the Star Wars franchise will continue to be felt for many years to come. Mayhew also acted in projects like Dark Towers, Dragonball GT: A Hero’s Legacy and Comic Book: The Movie, and along with being a regular on the convention circuit, he opened the Peter Mayhew Foundation, which aids in numerous charitable causes.

Be sure to share your thoughts about Peter Mayhew in the comments below. The Star Wars film series continues later this year with the release of The Rise of Skywalker on December 20. You can also look through our 2019 release schedule to learn what movies not set in a galaxy far, far away are coming soon.

Star Wars' Mark Hamill has not been quiet about wishing the new trilogy ending the Skywalker Saga included a reunion for his Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford's Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher's Princess/General Leia Organa. So it wasn't exactly surprising or controversial when he tweeted a fan-made image doctoring a shot from the first Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer, adding Han, Leia, and Luke next to Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian. Hamill tagged that reunion photo with #MissedOpportunities:

However, the first comment under his tweet had this message:

Mark Hamill returned to Twitter to share a new version of the reunion photo, this time adding his Joker. He explained and defended his original post, but lightened the mood with some of his trademark dad humor in honor of Avengers: Endgame weekend:

Billy Dee Williams appreciated the Luke/Leia/Han/Lando reunion photo, and replied to Mark Hamill's tweet with his own light humor:

Most of Mark Hamill's replies have been supportive, with fans saying there was no need for him to have to defend himself. They understood he was just re-expressing his sadness at the "missed opportunities" of the final trilogy never having a full OG reunion. However, some commenters argued the source of what you retweet does matter -- especially if you are as influential as Mark Hamill -- since it may come across as support for the account that made it. Many other famous names, especially political figures, have been called out for such things in the past.

Mark Hamill wasn't trying to endorse anything other than more wishful thinking for What Could Have Been. He's been on that track for a while, even if the Disney suits would probably rather he drop it. What if this is all a long con and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker does give us some kind of Luke/Leia/Han reunion after all? Based on his many posts on the subject, it doesn't seem like that's the case, but you never know.

Mark Hamill even revealed he pitched an idea to director J.J. Abrams for Episode VII: The Force Awakens, bringing Luke Skywalker back into the story a little bit earlier in the film so he could reunite with Leia and they could all be there for Han Solo's goodbye. Now the character of Han is gone, and Carrie Fisher is gone in real life. Leia is still returning through previously unused footage, but the original trilogy reunion ship seems to have sailed.

At least we have Lando back in the mix for Episode IX, and the trailer showed him having a blast back in the pilot's seat. Of course, we can't forget Chewbacca -- even if this fan image didn't add him to the reunion. Chewie didn't get Leia's hug in The Force Awakens and he didn't get a place in this reunion photo. The Wookiee deserves better.

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker opens in theaters December 20. Here's what we know so far about the end of the saga.

Although we recently reunited with Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story, that was with Donald Glover playing a younger version of the future Cloud City administrator. As far as Billy Dee Williams’ version is concerned, it’s been almost 40 years since we last saw him on the big screen in Return of the Jedi, but that finally changes later this year in Star Wars: Episode IX. Now we finally have our first look at Williams’ Lando back in action. Check it out!

As you can see, rather than wear the same kind of duds he wore in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian has pulled from his Solo: A Star Wars Story wardrobe, donning a yellow shirt like the one Donald Glover wore. However, if there’s one consistent thing we can expect from any iteration from Lando, it’s a cape, and Williams looks great wearing one of those again.

As for Lando Calrissian’s location in this Star Wars: Episode IX picture, while I originally thought it was the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, the ship that belonged to him before Han Solo won it in a game of sabacc, it’s also possible this is simply someone’s humble abode somewhere in a galaxy far, far away. Either way, Lando’s doing a spectacular job of brightening the room.

Although Billy Dee Williams vocally reprised Lando Calrissian a few years back for two episodes of Star Wars Rebels, there’s nothing like seeing Williams in person inhabiting the role again after all this time. And while Mark Hamill will be back as Luke Skywalker (undoubtedly as a Force ghost) and unused footage of Carrie Fisher from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi will allow Leia Organa to have a presence, it’s nice to have another member of the Original Trilogy guard participate in Episode IX, especially with this being the final installment of this trilogy.

While it’s nice to have this picture of Billy Dee Williams back as Lando Calrissian, the character’s specific role in Star Wars: Episode IX is still being kept under wraps, which is par for the course with this franchise, as it’s ridiculously careful not to divulge too many plot details. But here’s what Williams had to say about reprising Lando after all these years:

Billy Dee Williams also added that it wasn’t hard to get back into character, as Lando Calrissian never “left” him. However Lando ends up fitting into Episode IX, it’ll be good not just to see him back in action, but also interacting with the protagonists who have lead the charge in this current Star Wars trilogy.

Star Wars: Episode IX, or as it’s now officially known, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, opens in theaters on December 20. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates, and check out our 2019 release schedule to learn when this year’s other movies are coming out.

As far as we know, Star Wars' Lando Calrissian never met Rambo or Rocky, but actors Billy Dee Williams and Sylvester Stallone are old friends. "Old" is relative when it comes to these two -- Sly is 72 and Billy Dee is 81 -- because it's clear they are keeping in pretty good shape. They worked together on the 1981 crime thriller Nighthawks and reunited about 38 years later at the gym. Both actors have major movies coming out later this year -- Sly with Rambo V: Last Blood and Billy Dee with Star Wars: Episode IX. And they both shared the same reunion photo on social media, as well as fond memories of working together on Nighthawks:

Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams are both known for making plenty of sequels to their respective franchises, so I see no problem with bringing them back for Nighthawks 2. Bring back Lindsay Wagner (who was just on Grey's Anatomy) and the rest of the cast and let's go.

Sly Stallone shared his own photo of the Nighthawks reunion on Instagram, including his memories of how tough the film was to make. At the time, so many years before 9/11, he said it didn't seem feasible to The Powers That Be that the plot followed terrorists attacking New York:

In Nighthawks, Sylvester Stallone played Detective Sergeant Deke DaSilva, with Billy Dee Williams as Detective Sergeant Matthew Fox. Here's a look at Sly and Billy Dee in the movie:

That's quite a look, Sly. By that point, Sylvester Stallone had already proven himself with Rocky in 1976, and Rocky II in 1979. He was about to do Rocky III in 1982 and the first Rambo movie, First Blood in 1982. Fast-forward to 2019, and he's fresh off another return as Rocky Balboa in Creed II and preparing to release Rambo V: Last Blood on September 20, 2019.

Billy Dee Williams was even more fresh off success, with his debut as Lando Calrissian coming in The Empire Strikes Back, which had opened in 1980, just a year before Nighthawks opened. You can imagine the filming experiences were quite different. Apparently Nighthawks had a lot of production problems along the way, but it sounds like Billy Dee would've shot the Star Wars movie and Nighthawks back to back. He then returned as Lando in Return of the Jedi in 1983.

Now, nearly 40 years after Lando's debut, Billy Dee Williams is bringing the character he originated back to the big screen in Star Wars: Episode IX. That film will hit theaters December 20, 2019, three months after his buddy Sly's latest movie. Lando reportedly doesn't have a large role in Episode IX, but that doesn't mean he won't be important to the story. Details on that film are being kept under wraps. Meanwhile, Sly is promoting his new Rambo movie across social media. No need for major secrecy there.

As fans wait for those movies to come out -- and wait to see if Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams decide to reunite on a new movie set instead of just at the gym -- keep up with all the movies heading to theaters this year with our handy 2019 movie schedule.

Thanks to the official casting announcement, we know for sure that Billy Dee Williams will be reprising his role as Lando Calrissian in J.J. Abrams Star Wars: Episode IX. What we don’t know, alongside pretty much everything about the final chapter in the Skywalker Saga, is just how big Lando’s role in the film will be. However, based on a new report, it sounds like Lando’s appearance will be a small one.

Making Star Wars is reporting that Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian does not have a large role in Star Wars: Episode IX, and won’t be a major part of the story. But just because his part is brief, doesn’t mean it won’t be important. Lando Calrissian may fulfill a role in the film similar to that of Maz Kanata, helping the heroes on their quest by pointing them in the direction of the story's MacGuffin.

When we see him again Billy Dee Williams, may also be rocking a fancy blue cape and a cane and wearing a yellow shirt similar to the one that Donald Glover wore as Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story. This is just what Making Star Wars has heard though, so it’s best to take all of this Lando news with a grain of salt for now.

That said, this sounds about right for what we can expect from Lando Calrissian in Episode IX. He’s not Luke or Leia, nor is he part of the new class of Kylo, Rey, Finn or Poe. So it would be surprising if he had a ton of screen time with so many other characters’ stories and the arc of the entire trilogy and Saga to wrap up. As such, we shouldn't expect Lando to return in this third chapter of the sequel trilogy and be a main character.

This is especially true because neither Star Wars: The Force Awakens nor Star Wars: The Last Jedi established Lando’s current place in the galaxy or his role in this story. The last time we saw Billy Dee Williams as Lando was in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi and that film took place decades before the current story.

But if this report is true, while Lando’s appearance will be small, it will still matter. The comparison to Lupita Nyong’o’s Maz Kanata character makes sense, and hopefully that means Maz in The Force Awakens and not her cameo in The Last Jedi. While I don’t think people are expecting Lando to be a big part of the movie, the fandom is eager to finally have him pop up.

If Lando comes in to help the new generation of galaxy heroes, it would allow his return to be brief but impactful and more satisfying than just a cameo. This is not his story, but he is still a part of this universe and it makes sense for him to once again find himself in a position to help tilt the balance of the galaxy in one direction or the other.

I also like the idea that he would take some style cues from his younger self in Solo: A Star Wars Story. That would be a nice nod to the spinoff, and provide a tiny bit of cohesion between the two incarnations of Lando and the various films of the Star Wars universe.

It’s a pity we won’t see him with Han again, and based on this report it doesn’t sound like he would cross paths with Carrie Fisher’s Leia. But maybe Lando and Chewie will share a moment together. It's just cool that Lando is back, no matter what role he plays. Who knows, maybe he’ll even get back his beloved Millennium Falcon at the end of the movie when it’s all said and done.

Star Wars: Episode IX blasts into theaters on December 20. Check out our release guide to see all the movies you can look forward to this year on the road to Episode IX and keep an eye on CinemaBlend for the latest Star Wars movie news.

It's going to be so great to see Billy Dee Williams back on the big screen as Lando Calrissian. He originated the role back in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and continued for Episode VI - Return of the Jedi in 1983. It was revealed last year that Williams would return as Lando for Star Wars: Episode IX, which is still filming, although it should be wrapping up fairly soon ahead of its December 2019 release.

Billy Dee Williams is now 81, but he's still got that fighting Force, as he showed off in a recent Twitter photo:

The Force will be with him, always! Billy Dee Williams previously returned to character of Lando in voice roles like in The Lego Movie, The Cleveland Show, Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles, Star Wars Rebels, Lego Star Wars, and half a dozen video games.

But this is the first time he'll bring his Lando back into the original Star Wars Skywalker saga. Donald Glover recently played young Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story, revealing how Lando met Han Solo. Glover said Billy Dee Williams shared simple but perfect advice for how to play Lando.

It's such a shame that Lando will be returning to Star Wars after Han Solo's death in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Carrie Fisher's real-life death in 2016. It would've been a joy to see Harrison Ford's Han, Carrie Fisher's Leia, and Billy Dee Williams' Lando all together again. At least we still have Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker, plus Chewie, this time played by Joonas Suotamo.

Mark Hamill welcomed Billy Dee Williams back to the Star Wars galaxy, after it was confirmed that he would be returning for Episode IX, directed by Episode VII's J.J. Abrams.

Billy Dee Williams previously shared a photo several months ago, showing himself boxing to get fit or the job -- also with his sunglasses on. His future's so bright, he's gotta wear shades!

Star Wars: Episode IX started principal photography back in August 2018 and it was expected to wrap in February 2019, but we'll have to see if that's still the case.

Mark Hamill and John Boyega (Finn) have been doing their parts to share Star Wars intel on social media. Both gents recently posted fun Instagram tidbits about Daisy Ridley (Rey), who is no longer on social media. They seem to have a good time on set, at the very least. Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) did say the filming vibe was looser this time, as compared to The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

John Boyega recently said the whole team pushed themselves to "achieve something visually crazy" and he couldn't wait for fans to see what he meant. Star Wars: Episode IX is officially opening this year, although we still have a long wait ahead. It's coming December 20, as one of the many films to look forward to in 2019.

Star Wars fans are excited that Billy Dee Williams is coming back to the Star Wars franchise, as he's getting ready for that return in the most Billy Dee way possible. The actor recently released a short clip of himself getting into the physical shape to play Lando Calrissian again, and it turns out that Billy Dee Williams so cool that he even works out in shades. Check it out.

Billy Dee Williams says in the post on Twitter that he's feeling better than ever and he's certainly looking good throwing punch after punch at Gunnar Peterson, the personal trainer to the stars that is getting Billy Dee screen ready. While the actor may not look ready to star in the next Rocky movie, he still looks pretty damn good for an 81-year-old actor. He's the last guy in his 80s I'd want to mess with.

Of course, Billy Dee Williams built a reputation over the years of being one cool guy, so of course, he wouldn't bother taking off his sunglasses to workout. That wouldn't be cool enough. Although I can't decide if I like that, or the fact that his workout clothes have his initials, better.

Billy Dee Williams has been working with a personal trainer for some time. In fact, it was his admission that he was doing so that first got the rumor mill going about the possibility of a return to Star Wars. The fact that Williams was working out in the months prior to production starting on Star Wars Episode IX had many wondering if the timing wasn't a coincidence. As it turned out, it wasn't. After being apparently confirmed in the trades, Lucasfilm revealed that Billy Dee Williams would, in fact, be returning to play Lando Calrissian in Star Wars Episode IX. Of course, that doesn't mean we have the first clue how Lando will reenter the story, or where he's been for the last two movies.

It's going to be great to see Lando again, if only because the current Star Wars universe is now somewhat devoid of our favorite characters. While we know that Mark Hamill will be returning, one doesn't expect that a character who is likely now a Force Ghost will have a major role. We also know that Carrie Fisher will be back in Episode IX via the use of deleted scenes from the previous two movies. Though, that too will likely limit how big a part Leia will have. At this point, the only original trilogy mainstay who will likely be really involved in the story is Chewbacca, so bringing Lando back in will be nice for the old school fans. Star Wars Episode IX is now in production and will hit theaters in December 2019.

As far as major film franchises go, there is none quite as popular and beloved as Star Wars. George Lucas' colorful world has been passed down from generation to generation, resulting in a mass of loyal fans. The current trilogy of blockbusters will soon come to an end with Episode IX, completing the Skywalker Saga forever, and making way for new and exciting stories. The pressure is on for J.J. Abrams to deliver a satisfying conclusion, and the most recent casting announcement has certainly got the fans excited. In addition to the return of Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher as Luke and Leia, Billy Dee Williams is finally returning as Lando Calrissian, for the first time since Return of the Jedi. Mark Hamill recently reacted to the news, and sent his co-star a sweet welcome home message.

Doesn't this just make your midichlorians light up? Luke, Lando, and Leia will all be back to finish up the main Star Wars franchise in Episode IX, and the cat is finally out of the bag. Now we'll just have to see how J.J. Abrams managed to bring the epic space opera's story to a close.

Mark Hamill's recent Tweet shows how psyched Mark Hamill is about the mysterious events of Episode IX, and finally having the big casting secret out of the bag. The Star Wars franchise is one that relies on secrecy, as it has had some of the biggest plot twists in film history. Hamill has made his career keeping the galaxy's secrets, and is going to have to continue for the foreseeable future, especially now that he's been confirmed to return for Episode IX. How both Luke and Lando function within the story will likely remain a mystery until the blockbuster arrives in theaters, so we've got quite some time to wait.

Which of the remaining heroes could return for Episode IX became a major conversation after The Last Jedi aired. The film saw Luke seemingly die after his Force Projection confrontation with Kylo Ren on Crait. And with actress Carrie Fisher passing away in real life, Episode IX had the potential to be the first movie without any of the OG trio of heroes. Luckily Leia will be in the film through unused Last Jedi footage, while Luke will likely pop back up as a Force Ghost.

Billy Dee Williams' long awaited return to Lando in Episode IX is a major selling point for the OG fans. Lando hadn't been mentioned or seen during the first two films in the current franchise, despite Rian Johnson's original intention to bring him into the Canto Bight sequence in Return of the Jedi. But with Donald Glover's young Lando stealing scenes in Solo: A Star Wars Story, it's the perfect timing to bring back Billy Dee Williams' signature swagger and voice to the big screen.

All will be revealed when Episode IX arrives in theaters on December 20th, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Lando Calrissian has been a fan favorite character ever since he was first introduced in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and that legacy has continued through the character's many appearances over the years. Most recently we saw him portrayed by Donald Glover in Ron Howard's Solo: A Star Wars Story, but now new reports say that Billy Dee Williams will be back to reprise the role in the untitled Star Wars: Episode IX.

Rumors of Billy Dee Williams' potential return have been floating around for months now, but sources are now telling The Hollywood Reporter that Lando Calrissian will indeed be back in action for J.J. Abrams' next Star Wars movie. The blockbuster is going to be going into production later this summer, and it seems that its getting its pieces in order. It was recently reported that Keri Russell has signed on to the film in a mysterious role (creating a Felicity/Mission: Impossible III reunion with Abrams), and now Williams appears to be the second big new addition.

When you consider how the most recently trilogy of Star Wars movies has operated to this point, the inclusion of Lando Calrissian in the third chapter is an interesting move. When you look at Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi side-by-side, you start to see what the filmmakers had in mind for the structure: have each movie shine a spotlight on a protagonist from the original movies and conclude their story in a meaningful way. The Force Awakens is a goodbye to Han Solo, The Last Jedi is a goodbye to Luke Skywalker... and Episode IX presumably would have been a goodbye to General nee Princess Leia. Sadly all those plans had to change with the untimely passing of Carrie Fisher, so this situation makes one wonder if Lando might be getting the same kind of legacy treatment in her place (while presumably honoring Leia in a different way).

While there are many Lando Calrissian stories that are now non-canon (a.k.a. have the designation "Star Wars Legends"), the character has been a key part of the universe for years. In addition to being an important character in both The Empire Strikes Back and The Return Of The Jedi, he has also had his own Marvel Comics miniseries, appeared on the beloved animated series Star Wars Rebels, and is considered to be the best part of the aforementioned Solo: A Star Wars Story (with plenty of due credit going to Donald Glover). Thanks to the secrecy surrounding the Star Wars franchise we have no idea what Lando will be up to when we catch up with him in Episode IX, but at the very, very least we expect a lot more space capes.

As mentioned, Star Wars: Episode IX will be going into production in a few weeks time, which means that we should be hearing more reports about the pre-production process very soon. Stay tuned for more updates, and take all the time you can to prepare for the blockbuster's December 20, 2019 launch.

Fans have been wondering since The Force Awakens when Lando Calrissian would show up in the current trilogy. Although Donald Glover delivered on young Lando in Solo, we're still waiting to catch up with the original Lando. As we get nearer to the production start for the finale of the sequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode IX, evidence began to mount that the fan favorite character from the original trilogy could be making his long-awaited return, with Billy Dee Williams reprising the role. Star Wars fans became convinced that Billy Dee Williams' Lando Calrissian would be showing up in Episode IX after the actor cancelled his scheduled appearance at a convention due to a "film schedule conflict."

Billly Dee Williams was set to appear at the Saskatchewan Entertainment Expo, which takes place on September 15th and 16th, but had to cancel his appearance at the Expo because of a film schedule conflict according to the event's Facebook page. Now there are a couple of reasons to think that this conflict is Episode IX. For one thing, Billy Dee Williams doesn't have any other feature-film roles lined up at the moment. And with J.J. Abrams' Episode IX beginning production soon and likely taking several months, it would tie up Billy Dee Williams around that September timeframe if he has a part in it.

This alone might not be enough to convince people that Billy Dee Williams and Lando Calrissian will be in Episode IX, but when coupled with the other rumors and evidence out there, it is looking more and more likely that we'll be seeing the swaggering smuggler again soon. At a recent convention appearance, Billy Dee Williams revealed that he had a personal trainer and a new diet and exercise regimen, something one might do if they wanted to cut a striking figure while donning a cape in space. Then, two weeks ago, more rumors came out that a source had confirmed that Lando will indeed be appearing in the next saga film. This is certainly not a confirmation, but the clues are beginning to pile up.

If Lando is going to be in Episode IX, there is no guarantee that we will even know before the film, as Yoda was kept secret prior to The Last Jedi. Yet it would make perfect sense for him to appear. Hopefully he'll have a meaty role, since he can't get away from Pinewood Studios for a quick 2-day con appearance. Luke and Han were killed off and Carrie Fisher passed away in real life, so Lando is one of the few living heroes connected to the original trilogy. If Episode IX begins with Leia's funeral as we've speculated, audiences would expect to see Lando there. Rian Johnson considered using him in The Last Jedi, but it's starting to look like J.J. Abrams may be really bringing him back.

Star Wars: Episode IX hits theaters on December 20, 2019.

Here's a hypothetical situation: say you've been cast as the younger version of a character idolized by millions. Naturally, you'd be nervous about how to approach the role, and what the original actor would think of your performance. Donald Glover had that experience recently during the production of Solo: A Star Wars Story, as he spoke to legendary actor Billy Dee Williams for advise on how to play his equally famous character, Lando Calrissian. As Glover recalled in a recent interview, Williams gave him the following, simple advise:

"Be charming." Two words that are presumably pretty easy to live by, as well as easy to remember. Certainly, Donald Glover had no problem taking that advice to heart, as everything that been shown of his performance as Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story has looked absolutely charming. If the rumors about Mr. Calrissian getting a Star Wars spin-off are true, then Lucasfilm may be equally happy with Glover's performance. This should only make the fans more excited as they head into Solo's opening weekend in theaters.

Of course, fans are probably wondering how Billy Dee Williams felt about Glover's Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Well, we're happy to report that during his interview with Variety, Donald Glover revealed that Williams, in fact, approved his work. While Glover didn't press for anything past the "Good job" text he got after Billy Dee Williams had seen the film, it was still pretty heartening to get the all clear from the elder Lando. This praise is likely exciting for Alden Ehrenreich, and all involved with Solo: A Star Wars Story as well. The early reactions for the film were undoubtedly mixed, but still hopefulfrom first critics.

It also hasn't been forgotten that Solo: A Star Wars Story went through a difficult birthing process, with Ron Howard having to step in and rework a good portion of the film that was already underway during the tenure of former directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. As that news tore through the internet, the same sort of dark cloud that followed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story into theaters back in 2016 started to form. Though much like that previous film, it seems as if Solo is earning as many boosters as it is detractors, and the film is still set to make some waves during this Memorial Day weekend. And it's all in part to the utterly charming scoundrel that is Donald Glover.

We'll see just how charming he is when Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in early showings on Thursday night. In the meantime, if you're looking to see what else looks like it's going to charm audiences in 2018, you can find the answers in this year's release schedule.

The Star Wars franchise is going full throttle, and it's showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. With Disney now in charge of the property and producing both main installments and standalone films, there is a wealth of new and exciting content set within the galaxy far, far away. While many fans are still reeling from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the next standalone film is set to arrive in a matter of weeks. Fans have been eager to see how it handles younger versions of the title character, Chewie, and Lando Calrissian. The latter is played by Donald Glover, and a new trailer shows the Atlanta actor using an iconic aspect of Billy Dee Williams' original character. Specifically, how he says Han Solo's first name wrong. Check it out below, coming it at the 0:35 mark.

Make way for "Hahn" Solo, the best pilot in the galaxy. Hey, whatever Billy Dee Williams does is pure gold.

Lando's pronunciation of Han name in Solo's trailer is a small detail, but it's something that is going to delight the hardcore Star Wars fans out there. The franchise is one that has been passed down from generation to generation, so there are are many fans out there who have been following the epic space opera for decades. Aspects of the fandom may be nervous to a see classic characters like Han and Lando played by new actors, but this attention to detail is enough to quell some of their trepidations.

The Star Wars franchise may be beloved and extremely profitable, but it's a tricky property to get right. Because there are so many years and emotions tied to the galaxy, the community watches and dissects every frame from each new blockbuster. Furthermore, it's a franchise that many fans don't seem to be ever satisfied with. While J.J. Abrams was criticized for making The Force Awakens too formulaic and New Hope-ish, Rian Johsnon was chastised for taking too many risks with The Last Jedi. Ultimately Disney and Lucasfilm seem satisfied with their work. and are going full speed ahead with more silver screen adventures.

Overall, Solo: A Star War Story looks like it's going to really expand and illuminate beloved characters from the Star Wars franchise. Audiences will watch as a young Solo starts his adventures in the galaxy, including meeting his buddy Chewbacca. This standalone film promises to feature more Chewie than any of the previous movies, which is great considering how little the Wookie has to do in the current trilogy.

The timing of Solo's release is also tricky because of the recent death of Han Solo. While it was released years ago, there are plenty of folks who are still mourning Han's death. Ron Howard and actor Alden Ehrenreich have big shoes to fill, so it'll be fascinating to see how they manage to do it.

Solo: A Star Wars Story will arrive in theaters on May 25, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens introduced a lot of fresh faces to the saga set in a galaxy far, far away, like Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron and Kylo Ren. Star Wars: The Last Jedi will continue to introduce new characters, but there will still be plenty of old favorites contributing, like Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Chewbacca. However, for those of you who were holding out hope that Billy Dee Williams might reprise Lando Calrissian after all these years for the next movie, you'll be disappointed.

At his Star Wars Celebration panel, Billy Dee Williams revealed that he will not appear in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Williams has never been listed as part of the cast for Episode VIII, but that didn't stop speculation about how Lando Calrissian could briefly show up. Alas, it's not to be. Williams previously appeared as Lando in 1980's The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Return of the Jedi, though he also voiced the character in recent years for two episodes of Star Wars Rebels and a fun cameo in The LEGO Movie.

While the novel Stars Wars: Aftermath: Empire's End touched on what Lando was up to shortly after the Battle of Endor, no information has been provided on what he's been up to three decades after the events of the Original Trilogy. The only thing we know is that he was still alive several years before The Force Awakens took place, as he sent Leia Organa a message in the novel Bloodline. While there's still a chance someone might mention Lando or indirectly refer to him, it doesn't seem likely. That leaves 2019's Episode IX presumably as the last opportunity for Lucasfilm to bring Billy Dee Williams back on board, but it'll be a long time until we learn whether or not that will happen. If Episode IX decides it doesn't need Lando, hopefully one of the books will clue fans in on what happened to him.

Even though Billy Dee Williams isn't returning to the live action Star Wars world anytime soon, moviegoers won't have to wait long to reunite with Lando on the big screen. That's because Atlanta star Donald Glover will play the character in next year's Han Solo movie, which will follow the smuggler years before he met Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Mos Eisley cantina and became a Rebel hero. How exactly Lando will fit into the next Anthology spinoff hasn't been revealed yet, though it's rumored that we'll see how Han won the Millennium Falcon from his fellow scoundrel.

A Lando-less Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released in theaters on December 15, while the younger Lando can be seen when the Han Solo movie arrives on May 25, 2018.

The Lego Batman Movie has announced that Billy Dee Williams will reprise his role as Harvey Dent/Two-Face in the animated spin-off, a part that the legendary actor portrayed in Tim Burton's Batman back in 1989. Well, nearly. That's because Billy Dee Williams' Harvey Dent never actually manifested into Two-Face in Batman, and he was ultimately replaced as the character by Tommy Lee Jones for Batman Forever.

Chris McKay, who is making his feature film directorial debut with The Lego Batman Movie, made this revelation on Twitter. After being asked outright, "Please tell me Billy Dee Williams voices Two Face?" Chris McKay didn't dare beat around the bush, as he responded:

At the moment we're not exactly sure quite how big Two Face's role in The Lego Batman Movie will be, but at least this time Chris McKay has already confirmed that Billy Dee Williams will get the full chance to portray Two Face. Especially since he looked so spiffing just as Harvey Dent. I mean, just look at him.

There's every chance that Lego Batman Movie might poke fun at the decision not to continue with Billy Dee Williams as Two Face in the Batman franchise. Well, at least that's the hope, because it would be a bit of a waste if they didn't. Billy Dee Williams previously opened up at the 2013 Wizard World Nashville Comic Con (via Comic Book) about not reprising the role for Batman Forever, admitting that he'd originally hoped that he would. However, once Tim Burton dropped out of the film and was replaced by Joel Schumacher the decision was made to take it in a "different direction."

For a while there was an internet rumor that, despite being dropped as Harvey Dent in favor of Tommy Lee Jones, Billy Dee Williams still was actually paid for working on Batman Forever, as his original contract had guaranteed him the chance to do so. But during the same convention, Williams debunked this speculation, insisting that he only had a "one picture deal for Batman."

There's already quite a bit of hope surrounding The Lego Batman Movie, most of which comes off the back of the huge success of 2014's The Lego Movie. But it's also helped that as well as Will Arnett returning as the animated Caped Crusader, and the cast has impressively been rounded off by Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Michael Cera as Robin, Rosario Dawson as Batgirl, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred Pennyworth, Jenny Slate as Harley Quinn, and now Billy Dee Williams as Two Face. You can check out the Comic Con trailer for The Lego Batman Movie, below.

The jury is still out on Mariah Carey as Mayor McCaskill, though. We'll get to if she and the film can deliver the goods when The Lego Batman Movie is released on February 10, 2017.

Dirty Dancing is one of those films that just keeps its popularity even as the decades go by. The 1987 romantic drama is now considered a classic; and women still swoon when they think of Johnny and Baby slowly falling in love and him saving her from a staid life on the sidelines when he declares to her family, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” See? Swoon.

The ABC remake of the well-loved film is well under way, and since the cast keeps growing, we’re here to keep track of all the newest developments for you. So, let’s take a look at who’s already signed up to take on some of the iconic roles.

Abigail Breslin - Baby

Taking over for Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing will be Abigail Breslin. Breslin started making commericials when she was only three-years-old, and had her first major film role in 2002’s Signs. She went on to have her breakout in Little Miss Sunshine in 2006, a part that garnered her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. Breslin has appeared in dozens of TV shows and movies, including Zombieland, Ender’s Game, NCIS, Grey’s Anatomy, and the film Janie Jones, where she had a chance to show off her singing voice by performing several songs on the soundtrack. She was most recently seen on TV in FOX’s Scream Queens.

Colt Prattes - Johnny

Colt Prattes is not a name many of you will know, but I bet a lot of people would recognize his most famous bit of work. Prattes, who will be taking on the role Patrick Swayze immortalized as Johnny, starred with pop star P!nk in the video for her song “Try.” He also toured with the singer and appeared on stage with her to recreate their breathtaking dance number at the 2014 Grammy Awards and American Music Awards. Prattes is also an actor and singer who’s made a name for himself in those areas in the Las Vegas production of Rock of Ages as rock megastar Stacee Jaxx.

Debra Messing - Marjorie Houseman

Alright, I know this seems like a bit of a surprising choice, but Debra Messing has, indeed been signed to play Baby’s devoted mother and meticulous Houseman family housewife. Messing is, of course, very well-known for her part as half of the main duo on NBC’s Will & Grace for eight years. She’s most known for her work in TV, which has included The Starter Wife and her current show, The Mysteries of Laura. But, the role that will have the most impact on her performance in the Dirty Dancing remake is her part on the too-short-lived musical Smash.

Nicole Scherzinger - Penny

As naïve resort dancer Penny, Nicole Scherzinger will take on the part a working class woman who gets herself into a bit of trouble, which just happens to open the way for Baby and Johnny to work together and wind up in love. Scherzinger is best known as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. The singer, dancer and actress has also sold 16 million records as a solo artist. Scherzinger acted as a judge on The X Factor in the U.S. and the U.K. and most recently co-hosted Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris. While she’s not known for her acting, she did receive a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for her part as Grizabella in the West End production of Cats.

Sarah Hyland - Lisa Houseman

Baby needs an older sister, and Modern Family actress Sarah Hyland is up for the challenge. Hyland has been acting sine the age of four, and got her first movie credit in Private Parts in 1997. Since then she’s appeared in Law & Order, Spanglish, One Life to Live, Childrens Hospital, Vampire Academy and the TV mini-series Bonnie & Clyde.

Billy Dee Williams - Tito

Well, if you need a resort bandleader named Tito for Dirty Dancing, you want someone smooth as ice cream and just as sweet. For a part like that, you can’t do better than Billy Dee Williams, king of all things smooth, charming and sweet in the 1970s. Williams broke out in the 1971 TV movie Brian’s Song, then made his name by starring as charismatic romantic leads in films like Lady Sings the Blues and Mahogany. He’s also had leading roles in Scott Joplin, The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings and Nighthawks. Williams is probably best known, though, for his part as Lando Calrissian in two of the original Stars Wars films.

J. Quinton Johnson - Marco

Every band needs a lead singer, and J. Quinton Johnson will be playing Marco, the leader singer and guitarist of Tito's band at the resort and one of the vacation spot's stars. Johnson just made his film debut in SXSW's opening night film, Everybody Wants Some! The film's director, Richard Linklater, discovered Johnson while he was finishing his degree in Musical Theater at the University of Texas.

Beau “Casper” Smart - Billy

Beau “Casper” Smart is taking on the role of Billy in the Dirty Dancing remake. In the film, Billy is Johnny's cousin, and he meets Baby while on his way to the staff quarters. Baby goes along and has her introduction to "dirty dancing" and comes into contact with Johnny for the first time. This version of Billy will be an old friend of Johnny's who got him the job at the resort and likes to dance with the staff at their after hours parties. Smart is a dancer and actor who's appeared in a number of projects. His work can be seen in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, How I Met Your Mother, Glee, Step Up 3D and The Big Bang Theory.

Bruce Greenwood - Dr. Jake Houseman

Baby won't need to escape her life without someone to put her in the corner, so the movie needs Dr. Jake Houseman to lead the family and lay down expectations. Bruce Greenwood is the new head of the Houseman family. Greenwood has been a mainstay in film and television for several decades. He got his start on the 1977-1978 series The Beachcombers, and has gone on to make a long career for himself. He's appeared in First Blood, Matlock, St. Elsewhere, Knots Landing, I, Robot, Flight and the rebooted Star Trek franchise, among his 137 credits. He was most recently seen in FX's American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson

Shane Harper - Robbie

You might not remember Robbie from the original film, but he does play an important, though minor, role as the womanizing waiter who romances Baby's sister Lisa. Shane Harper will be taking on the part for the ABC remake. Harper got his start singing, dancing and acting in community theater when he was 9-years-old, and got his first TV credit in 2006. Since then, he's had parts in Hight School Musical 2 and Zoey 101, but's he's best known for his work in Good Luck Charlie, Awkward and the film God's Not Dead.

Katey Sagal - Vivian

Every smallish community like Kellerman's resort needs someone ultra sultry to stir things up, and Vivian fills the bill for them. The former beauty queen revels in seducing much younger male staff members at the resort, like our boy Johnny. At the time we meet Vivian, she's recently divorced and super rich, thanks to that divorce. She introduces Marjorie to the free-wheeling single life and makes the married mother of two think twice about her own relationship. Katey Sagal is best known for her parts in Married with Children, Sons of Anarchy and her voice work on Futurama, but she's racked up a total of 73 credits since her first on screen appearance in a TV movie in 1971.

Trevor Einhorn - Neil

Neil is the lanky, unrefined and tightly wound heir to Kellerman's resort who befriends Baby and has an obvious crush on her, which Baby's dad would love to see reciprocated. Despite his lesser traits, though, he's incredibly charming and honorable. Trevor Einhorn's screen career goes back to 1994 when he appeared in Disclosure. He's since worked on Frasier, Sons & Daughters, The Office and Mad Men.

The Dirty Dancing remake is well on its way to having a full leading cast now, and they have already made some amazing and interesting choices. Now, who can’t wait to see what these fine actors do with these classic roles?

NCIS has been on the air for a whopping 13 seasons (and is renewed for more). In that time, a slew of famous faces have popped up on the series in guest starring roles and stints. While most of these appearances haven’t had the nerd cred that guests on The Big Bang Theory or various superhero shows have, many have been memorable in their own right. So, we culled through all of the names who have popped up on the show and ranked them by sheer awesomeness, how memorable their characters were and how well they were utilized within NCIS’ case-of-the-week plot.

Without further ado, and with zero apologies to all of the snubbed Lost actors, here is our list of the top 10 greatest guest stars on NCIS, ranked. You can check them out, below.

10. Zac Efron

Back in Season 3, the CBS drama enlisted the help of Zac Efron in an episode called "Deception." It was a small role, but it gave Zac Efron the chance to shine before he was famous. In fact, the episode aired just a few short weeks before High School Musical hit the schedule, propelling the young actor to fame. The rest is history.

9. Lindsay Wagner

This is one of the few geeky castings that NCIS has indulged in. Anyone familiar with Bionic Woman should know Lindsay Wagnar played the lead in the 1970s TV series. She popped up more recently in a Season 13 episode that gave us a little more insight into Ellie’s backstory. Wagner played her mother, Barbara, who doled out plenty of life advice to her daughter and even shared some embarrassing Bishop stories with Gibbs during her time onscreen. It was a classic stint, and even better, there’s theoretically potential for her to pop back up in the future!

8. Terry O'Quinn

Honestly, it was really difficult choosing who to throw into this slot. There have been a handful of Lost alumni on the series over the years, and choosing between Josh Holloway—who was on NCIS back in 2004 before Lost started—Emilie de Ravin—who appeared way back in 2003—is never an easy prospect. What we liked about Terry O’Quinn’s gig was that the man played a recurring character on JAG during its run. Those who are familiar know that NCIS is a spinoff of JAG. While O’Quinn did play a different character on NCIS--one with a history with Gibbs--it was super cool that he could appear on both shows.

7. Lily Tomlin

We’ve obviously proven we’re fond of the family members of major characters showing up, especially when they are played by famous actors and actresses. In the Season 9 episode “The Penelope Papers,” Lily Tomlin was cast to play none other than McGee’s grandmother, an ex-hippie with some secrets related to hybrid caterpillars. Yes, it was a weird episode, but we're still thinking about it years and years later.

6. Abigail Breslin

Abigail Breslin is set to play the lead in the upcoming Dirty Dancing TV movie, but when she appeared on NCIS way back in 2004, she was much, much younger. The cute little girl had already appeared in Signs but this was even before her big Little Miss Sunshine debut. Still, you could tell in the Season 2 premiere that a star was being born, as Abigail Breslin played a young, blind pianist who was kidnapped and suffered under her captor, only to find out it was someone close to her who had kidnapped her later on. This was one NCIS stint we haven’t forgotten.

5. Bob Newhart

Comedian legend Bob Newhart was the star of several famous TV shows, but these days, he’s been crushing the world of guest stints. He’s probably more famous for guesting on The Big Bang Theory as the belated Professor Proton, but his role on NCIS was also a good one. He played Dr. Walter Magnus, the former NCIS chief medical examiner who was replaced by Donald Mallard. In the Season 8 episode, he came way out of retirement to help with a case, but it ended on a sad note when we learned Magnus was suffering from Alzheimers. NCIS doesn’t often get emotional, but this stint really had a big aww moment at the end.

4. Colin Hanks

Colin Hanks recently played an endearing cop on Fargo, but on NCIS, he was a quite a bit more unlikeable. Hanks’ character, Parsons, was around for 3 episodes in Season 11. During that time, the cast members actually referred to him as “Evil McGee,” because he looked similar to Sean Murray’s character, but was inherently nothing like him. Eventually Parsons’ plans to get Gibbs out of the game were foiled and the team moved forward, unimpeded. It was still a great guest stint, though.

3. Jon Cryer

Jon Cryer’s appearance on NCIS was really special, mostly because Cryer is a CBS alum who really loves the show. The long-running series figured out a way to sign the former Two and a Half Men actor on for several episodes. The actor played Navy surgeon Dr. Taft and saved Gibbs’ life early on in Season 13. Not a bad way to spend a multi-episode guest stint.

2. Billy Dee Williams

Star Wars actor Billy Dee Williams guest starred on NCIS back in the Season 10 episode “The Namesake”, playing Gibbs’ namesake Leroy Jethro Moore, who had a falling out with Gibbs’ father many years ago. While a case was still investigated during the episode, the big moment was when Gibbs’ dad and LJ finally met to make amends many years after their initial friendship fell apart. It’s a stint that nearly made the top of our list.

1. Jamie Lee Curtis

Like Jon Cryer and a few of the other guest stars on this list, Jamie Lee Curtis was important enough to pop up in multiple episodes, playing Gibbs’ girlfriend, Samantha Ryan. She’s not a basic love interest on the procedural, though. She proved helpful to Gibbs and the team with a case in Season 9 regarding Harper Dearing. Unfortunately, she also had a scary ex, and when Mr. Dearing helped her ex to leave prison, she dropped everything and left, thus ending what we feel was the greatest guest stint in the history of NCIS.

Close But No Cigar:Jaleel White, Corey Stoll, Eric Stonestreet, all the other former Lost cast members, Jeri Ryan, Hal Holbrook, Robert Patrick

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As the co-writer of Star Wars: The Force Awakens - alongside director J.J. Abrams - Lawrence Kasdan has a pretty big say in the future of the legendary franchise. As a result, if he says that the story of Lando Calrissian isn't quite over, it's rather easy to believe him. Thankfully, that's exactly the sentiment that the filmmaker recently shared in an interview, and while there isn't exactly a timetable for the character's reappearance, it does sound like we haven't seen the last of him.

As part of their special recent Star Wars issue, Vanity Fair recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Kasdan about the future of the famed sci-fi franchise, and it was at the very end of their conversation that the subject of Lando Calrissian - the character famously played by Billy Dee Williams in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Asking a question at the behest of his son, the reporter asked if we've seen the end of the smooth-talking smuggler, and, fortunately for audiences worldwide, Kasdan gave a very optimistic response. Said the filmmaker,

Obviously that's an extremely open-ended answer, and really could be years and years before we actually get to see the former Baron Administrator of Cloud City again, but Lawrence Kasdan's comments still inspire hope that he will see him sooner rather than later. After all, even though the guy was introduced as a backstabber and coward, he made up for those failings by being a real hero and successfully blowing up the second Death Star. He's a key character in franchise lore, and it would be an honest mistake for no project to ever bring him back into the mix.

The good news is that Billy Dee Williams sounds like he would be more than happy to make a comeback as Lando Calrissian in one of the planned live-action movies. Not only did the actor reprise the role on an episode of Star Wars Rebels in the show's first season, but just a few months ago he went on record saying that he has a feeling that he's "going to show up." It certainly would be a "back by popular demand" situation, and one would be hard-pressed to find a fan of the long-running series who doesn't want to see more of Lando.

The Lando-less Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be dropping into theaters on December 17th, but maybe he'll be back for the Rian Johnson-directed Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is on the books to be released on May 26, 2017.

The Star Wars franchise makes its return this December with Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, brandishing the return of several cast members of the storied Original Trilogy. Apparently, one classic cast member who will be missing that boat is Billy Dee Williams in his role as the Cloud City Casanova himself, Lando Calrissian. However, according to his comments in a recent interview, Lando could still end up jumping into his cloud car and swooping his way into the new films, caressing a beautiful lady in one hand while holding a can of Colt 45 in the other. (Although, drinking malt liquor while cloud-car-flying is not recommended for people who are not Billy Dee.)

In an interview with Cinelinx, Williams discusses his recent return as the Lando Calrissian character by way of a voice performance for the animated series, Star Wars Rebels. However, it seems that the world of digital animation may not be the only means that the mustachioed smuggler of black market goods and non-single women returns to the Star Wars continuity. In fact, if Williams’ tone is any indication, Lando could, in a move mirroring his Original Trilogy appearances, show up in the Sequel Trilogy sequels:

For the 77-year-old veteran actor, Williams, whose career dates back to the 1950’s, the flamboyant blue-caped shadow cast over him by the Lando character is something that he now embraces. He now gladly finds himself a mainstay at Star Wars conventions where, according to Williams, fans see Lando as "perpetually me." If he wasn’t amped to return before, then the Rebels performance certainly must have incited some craving to play Lando again. Now, with his role as Han Solo’s wayward, but redeemed former partner in crime, Williams sees a prospective live action return as the culmination of the experience.

However, despite his clear adoration for the Lando character, who he claims is a "parody" of himself, he’s not quite at a point where he’s scanning the field of his prospective return. In the Cinelinx interview, Williams claims to have never seen The Force Awakens trailer and claims to have "no idea what they’re doing with it." With that said, he does plan to see the film upon release, and, when asked what the answer would be when the fateful casting call does come, Williams responded unhesitatingly with "sure."

While it’s pretty clear that the upcoming J.J. Abrams-led sequel films will focus on a new generation of Force-powered protagonists, it’s also apparent that it is being approached with the heart of a fan. Thus, the return of Luke, Han, Leia and Chewbacca in a supporting capacity in Episode VII have to be seen as a sign that more classic characters are on their way to the two subsequent chapters; especially if one rumor of Lando’s connection to a cast newbie is correct. Yes, we think that Williams’ phone will ring, emitting a lens flare of Abrams-led optimism that Lando will return!

The Disney XD original series, Star Wars Rebels, is adding an appearance from yet another character from the original Star Wars trilogy. This time Star Wars Rebels fans can expect to see an appearance from the one and only Lando Calrissian. While Billy Dee Williams confirmed his appearance on the show back in June, we have finally gotten our first glimpses of Lando on the show. Take a look:

Star Wars 7 news reports that the images first popped up on Twitter from various Star Wars fans. But luckily, the Star Wars Youtube account also put together this awesome video of Williams' work on Star Wars Rebels. Check it out.

Williams makes it no secret that he loved his time as Lando Calrissian, and he would be keen to reprise the role at any time, so it isn’t surprising that the writers of Star Wars Rebels tapped Williams to appear in the universe. Maybe Williams reprising his role as Lando for Rebels will inspire JJ Abrams and the writers of the new Star Wars films to bring Lando back as well. We can hope, right?

The brains behind Star Wars Rebels have done a pretty stellar job keeping the show in line with the Star Wars timeline (the drama takes place between Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars IV: A New Hope), and making it a legitimate, accurate part of the Star Wars canon. They have also been very keen to incorporate some well-loved characters on the show. Lando is the third classic character to show up on Star Wars Rebels, as Darth Vader and Yoda (or Yoda’s voice, anyway) have already made appearances on the animated series. The show has certainly struck a chord with fans. Star Wars Rebels was renewed for a second season by Disney XD before many people even had the chance to watch the show’s premiere.

Because Rebels is set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, two Jedi Knights are on the run from the Empire. The show follows the adventures of two Jedi, Kanan Jarus (voiced by Freddie Prinze Jr.) and Ezra Bridger (voiced by Taylor Gray). Kanan and Ezra travel around the universe on their ship, The Ghost, with a crew of others who are against the Empire. Kanan and Ezra and the rest of the crew are on the run from the Galactic Empire and a new villain called The Inquisitor who is out to find and kill any remaining Jedis in the universe.

Star Wars Rebels airs on Monday nights on Disney XD at 9/8c, and Lando Calrissian will appear on the show on January 19. “Idiot’s Array” is already available to watch with the Watch Disney XD app.

The Star Wars franchise is heading in new and exciting directions. Disney has brought in fresh blood and opened the spectrum of the universe up to include tons of potential spin-offs, origin stories and straight up sequels. It’s all pushing forward at this point, but even so, the producers have smartly reached out to biggest names from the original trilogies in the name of finishing their stories properly. When Episode VII is released, we’ll see plenty of their smiling faces, but unfortunately, it now seems like at least one classic character will be missing: Lando Calrissian.

TMZ cameramen were out and about the other day when they spotted Billy Dee Williams. So, of course, they asked him the one question every single Star Wars fan wants to know. Would he be willing to come back and film a segment for Episode 7?

Sounds awesome, right? Well, unfortunately, it seems producers may not have the same feelings as Williams. Later in the same interview, he readily admitted no one from Disney or Star Wars has contacted him, and he hasn’t been asked to shoot anything. In fact, he seemed completely unaware that Star Wars: Episode 7 already started filming a few days ago.

No doubt a higher percentage of actors and actresses than we would care to admit would respond pretty negatively to such news, especially when peppered with follow-up questions, but Williams was as comfortable and smooth as ever. He said he has nothing to be bitter about and thinks Disney is doing things the right way. That’s pure class and exactly what you would expect from a man who was his generation’s version of The Most Interesting Man In The World…

Williams spent a few weeks competing on this season’s version of Dancing With The Stars. At 77, he’s still extremely mobile, and with plenty of time on his hands, he’d gladly drop everything to play Lando one more time. Obviously, he’s not as central to the franchise as some of the others, but it seems like producers would be wise to work him in somewhere and throw a few lines his way. It would add a little more credibility to the time gap, and perhaps more importantly, it would go over really well with the fans.

Now that George Lucas has all-but-confirmed that Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill will all be back for more Star Wars films, we're left to wonder about the return of other classic characters. Well, those played by humans at least-- I'm pretty sure we can count on droids like C-3PO and R2D2 to come back no matter what. There's still nothing official out there whatsoever, beyond J.J. Abrams' involvement as director, but that's not going to keep at least one original cast member from campaigning for his return.

Talking at the Emerald City Comic-Con in Seattle (via Movies.com), Billy Dee Williams said he hasn't been approached by Disney or Lucasfilm, but he's be happy to return. One of his reps took it a little further, grabbing the mic and telling the assembled audience to tweet, send letters and e-mails to Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, and everyone else with the power to cast the movie. Asked if he could play a younger version of the character (since speculation has it that there will be a Han Solo prequel/spin-off), Williams confidently replied "No one can play Lando but me."

Most fans would probably agree, and even though Ewan MacGregor did a perfectly credible job taking over the Obi-Wan reins from Alec Guinness, there seems to be no reason not to bring Williams back. I believe him when he says he hasn't heard anything-- but do you really think they're going to stage this whole reunion without Lando? I'll bet you $10 he shows up somehow when Star Wars Episode VII comes to theaters in 2015… or whenever J.J. Abrams decides it's ready.

With Disney's recent acquisition of Lucasfilms, Star Wars is a hot topic these days, as is anything or anyone related to the beloved sci-fi franchise. That includes Billy Dee Williams, who played the role of Lando Calrissian in Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The actor is set to make an appearance on Modern Family in an upcoming episode this season.

EW shared the news that Williams is set to appear in the holiday episode of Modern Family titled "New Year's Eve." He's playing himself in the episode and will have a run-in with Ed O'Neill's character Jay, who crosses paths with him during a game of cards while on a family holiday trip to Palm Springs.

Williams has made a few TV appearances in recent years, playing the voice of Lando in an episode of The Cleveland Show, and guest starring on White Collar, Mad and NCIS. And he played himself in Man Up and The Life & Times of Tim, so that's not exactly new territory for the actor either. Still, it's great news for Star Wars fans especially if there's a reference to the films or his character in the episode. I can just imagine Jay making a sarcastic Lando remark. And it's worth noting that Modern Family airs on ABC, which just so happens to be a Disney owned network.

EW also says Nathan Lane will be back on the show in the episode that follows "New Year's Eve," reprising his character Pepper, who runs into Mitch and Cam on the golf course.