Donald Glover Talks Landing 'Star Wars' Lando Calrissian Role on 'Ellen'

Donald Glover talks about getting his 'Star Wars' role for the first time on 'Ellen.'

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Complex Original

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Donald Glover discussed landing the iconic role of Star Wars’ Lando Calrissian on Ellen, calling it a “honor.”

Glover revealed Lando Calrissian was the first toy he had (Glover’s dad gave it to him), adding that—ever the Star Wars fan—he had a Darth Vader one too.  

“I told my dad immediately,” Glover said about getting to play Calrissian. “He was like, ‘Aww.’ My mom was in the back; she was like, ‘Don’t mess it up! Don’t mess this up!’ ‘Cause Billy Dee—like, that’s hers.”

Glover will be portraying Calrissian, originally played by Billy Dee Williams in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, in the Han Solo spin-off which will star Alden Ehrenreich.

According to a news release on StarWars.com, the Han Solo spin-off “...depicts Lando in his formative years as a scoundrel on the rise in the galaxy's underworld -- years before the events involving Han, Leia, and Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and his rise to Rebel hero in Return of the Jedi.”

Ellen noted how Glover spoke his Star Wars role into existence after saying he wanted to be in the franchise, while also mentioning how Glover talked about wanting to be the lead in Spider-Man. Glover’s campaign to be the titular character may have not exactly panned out, but he will have a role in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming.

For now, Glover’s enjoying the popularity and critical acclaim for his show Atlanta, which has been renewed for a second season.

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