Last night’s Golden Globe-winning Atlanta star Donald Glover has spoken to USA Today about playing a young Lando Calrissian in the upcoming Han Solo movie.
“Not getting to eat anything enjoyable for the rest of my life,” Glover said of his preparations. “Lando’s a big deal to me. It was literally the first toy I ever got. When you have something that’s kind of iconic … where people pay attention to it, it’s hard because you want to live up to the expectation. But all you can do is live up to your own. And Star Wars is really high. I really just want to have fun. The directors: (Christopher Miller and Phil Lord), they’re amazing. I love the guy who is playing Han (Alden Ehrenreich). It’s going to be a good time. It’s going to be fun. I’m getting ready to just have fun with those guys.”
Glover also spoke to Variety about taking up the mantle from Billy Dee Williams on the red carpet:
Donald Glover talks about being cast in the upcoming Han Solo spinoff: “I was kind of shocked.” #StarWars #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/0QVBMXGA8Z
— Variety (@Variety) January 9, 2017
Meanwhile, MakingStarWars is reporting that the Han Solo movie will shoot partly in Spain’s Fuerteventura, part of the Canary Islands, which has the rugged, hilly western landscape they’re going for. Italy may also reportedly play host to the film, which is expected to begin shooting around February.
The cast also includes Alden Ehrenreich (Hail Caesar!) as the title scoundrel, Woody Harrelson (War For the Planet of the Apes) as Solo’s mentor and an undisclosed role for Game of Thrones‘ Emilia Clarke. Phil Lord and Chris Miller (21 Jump Street, The LEGO Movie) are directing.
RELATED: Emilia Clarke Joins the Han Solo Movie
The screenplay for the Han Solo movie hails written by Lawrence Kasdan and Jon Kasdan and will focus on how young Han Solo became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley. It has also been confirmed that Chewbacca will also be a featured character in the film and, while unconfirmed, it is likely that The Force Awakens‘ Joonas Suotamo will reprise the role.
Slated for a May 25, 2018 release, the Han Solo movie will be executive produced by Lawrence Kasdan and Jason McGatlin and co-produced by Will Allegra.
What do you think of Donald Glover playing Lando? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
