Star Wars has a passionate fanbase, and that fandom extends around the world, which has contributed to a slew of recent Star Wars movies making over a billion dollars worldwide -- or more. For some of the actors who get to be involved with Lucasfilm movies, the work is a job, a cool job, but just a job. For others, working on a Star Wars movie is the fulfillment of a childhood love, an epic experience akin to... well akin to The Bible, if you ask Donald Glover. The Solo: A Star Wars Story star recently opened up on the red carpet for the movie, noting,
It's almost like full circle like I'm getting to be part of like, The Bible or something, you know what I'm saying? Like it feels like I get to be something original but also something as old as time. I'm very like, lucky to be a part of it. I grew up on it, it's the first toy I ever had, so this role I don't take lightly. I'm a fan, first and foremost, before I'm an actor in this.
The year 1977 isn't exactly "as old as time," but the general idea behind this comment and the storytelling in Star Wars definitely makes sense. Donald Glover was a Star Wars fan before he was a writer or an actor or even a rapper, and getting to be a part of one of those movies is overwhelming and iconic. It's cool when we get to see celebrities geek out over a project as much as the fandom does, and you can't get any more epic than comparing the movie you are in to the #1 bestseller of all time. Per what Glover told THR during the red carpet at the Han Solo premiere, his first toy even had to do with Star Wars, and the gig is clearly important to him. Now, we'll just have to wait and see how Lando Calrissian is received on the big screen.
Early reviews for Solo: A Star Wars Story have been across the board, but Donald Glover's Lando Calrissian is one character who has been spotlighted and seemingly well-liked by fans in the advertising leading up to the premiere. In fact, Atom Tickets did a survey of moviegoers and found that 50% of millennials are most excited about seeing Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story over Han Solo and other characters, although it's worth pointing out Gen Xers are still pretty darn excited about Han.
As for Solo: A Star Wars Story in general, this movie in particular should be special for those involved in production. The film is a prequel story, and a lot of its characters were portrayed by other actors many moons ago. Not only do actors like Donald Glover and Alden Ehrenreich get to try their own hands at playing iconic characters, they get to introduce those characters to a whole new generation of fans. That's not a bad place to be -- especially if the movie ends up being well-received by fans.
We won't have too much longer to wait. Solo: A Star Wars Story officially hits theaters on May 25, and tickets are already on sale. (Thanks, May the Fourth.) However, if you can't wait that long to read into the movie, we have a full guide looking into what's coming.
