Donald Glover To Write New ‘Star Wars’ Series ‘Lando’ Based On ‘Solo’

Actor Donald Glover is making a return to a galaxy far, far away, and this time, he’s not alone!

Both the “Atlanta” star and his brother, Stephen Glover, will be writing the Disney+ live-action series “Lando” for Disney+, which marks the latest “Star Wars” series currently in development.

Both Donald Glover and Stephen Glover will be writing a Lucasfilm series based on the character of Lando Calrissian, who was first portrayed by Billy Dee Williams in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Glover portrayed a younger Lando Calrissian in Ron Howard’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which featured Alden Ehrenreich playing a young Han Solo.

Although the movie was a box office flop, the news of a Disney+ series came in December 2020. At the time, “Dear White People” creator Justin Simen had been attached to the project, although he has since parted ways with Lucasfilm. The Glover brothers will be writing the new series themselves, as reported by Variety, who also noted that the brothers inked the deal before the writer’s strike.

In April, the “Community” actor told GQ that he would love to play Lando again after admitting that he is a lot choosier about the projects that he chooses to take on ever since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most of the entertainment industry. “I would love to play Lando again. It’s a fun time, being him. It just has to be the right way to do it. Time is precious,” he said.

“The past couple of years, this pandemic s---, it really had people experience time… People realize their time is valuable. You only get so much. I’m not interested in doing anything that’s going to be a waste of my time or just a paycheck,” he continued. “I’d much rather spend time with people that I enjoy. It just has to be the right thing, and I think it could be. Lando is definitely somebody I like to hang out with.”

In 2018, shortly after “Solo: A Star Wars Story” hit theaters, Glover talked about reprising the character of Lando Calrissian Town Hall.

“It would always be fun to be Lando again,” he said at the time. “The movie, I feel like, is wide open. This part of the universe without the… I feel like with the Skywalkers, it’s hard because it’s almost like the Bible.”

“There’s a story that you have to tell, and the lineage of that family,” he continued. “I feel like out here it’s like, yeah, we’re just like hustlers and gamblers and space pirates, essentially, so you can do a lot more and have a lot more fun.”

Although some fans would love to see the cast of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” back together on screen to continue their adventures, filmmaker Ron Howard does not feel optimistic about the chances of that happening any time soon.

“The only discussion that I’m aware of about a sequel for Solo is coming from the fans at this point,” Howard told NME earlier this year. “I don’t think it’s a Lucasfilm priority, as I understand it.”

However, he also made sure to add a “never say never” disclaimer, as it’s possible that a “Lando” Disney+ series could reinvigorate more interest in a sequel for “Solo.” Howard added, “The folks from Lucasfilm love the fans and really do listen, so I would never say never. But I’m not aware of any concrete plans right now to extend the story or deal with that particular set of characters.”

In addition to Donald Glover, Daisy Ridley will also be reprising her role as the scavenger Rey after first appearing in 2015’s “The Force Awakens” and starring in the sequel trilogy. The new “Star Wars” movie will be directed by “Ms. Marvel” filmmaker SharmeenObaid-Chinoy.

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that the film will be set 15 years after 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” which wrapped up the nine-episode Skywalker Saga.

Unfortunately, at this time, it is unclear if the writer’s strike and the SAG-AFTRA strike will postpone production, as the film has a tentative 2026 release date.