Michael K. Williams came closer than anybody to being in a Star Wars movie. He was actually in Solo: A Star Wars Story at one point, in the role of Dryden Vos. However, the additional shooting required by Ron Howard conflicted with Williams schedule, resulting in the need to bring in a new actor, Paul Bettany, to take over the role. Despite the fact that all his work was cut out of the film, he holds no ill will toward the franchise and would love another shot at being part of the galaxy, far, far, away. According to Williams...
I have not had the chance to see Solo but shout out to my cast mates. Even though I didn't make the final cut, they're still my cast mates. I love you guys. I'm quite sure I'll get around to it but I'm more interested in getting another shot in being in that galaxy...I would love another opportunity to be in Star Wars.
Michael K. Williams still feels like a part of the movie, because from his perspective he was. He did the work and played the part and worked with the rest of the cast. Since he tells Variety he's not actually seen Solo: A Star Wars Story yet, the only version of the Dryden Vos role that he knows is the one he played. Still, it doesn't appear that he's focusing on the part that the world never saw, but instead is looking toward the future and the potential for a future role in the Star Wars universe. Since the work he did isn't technically canon, the actor is free to show up in some future movie in an entirely different role.
Since he was good enough to play a Star Wars character before, there's every reason to believe that he will be again. And we know that there will certainly be opportunities for Michael K. Williams in the future. While the details of what Lucasfilm is planning post-Episode IX are far from clear, what is clear is that new Star Wars movies are coming. Rian Johnson is working on a new trilogy and the creative team behind Game of Thrones is also working on ideas. Beyond that numerous other projects have been rumored. There have even been rumors that a project surrounding Obi-Wan Kenobi is actually currently in pre-production and set to go before the camera early next year, though nothing has been officially confirmed.
Hopefully, Michael K. Williams will get his wish as I'd certainly love to see what the actor can bring to the Star Wars franchise. Perhaps one of the deleted scenes included in the new Solo: A Star Wars Story Blu-ray will show us the role that could have been.
