Donald Glover on the “Pressure” of Playing Lando in the Young Han Solo Movie
With an extensive resume as a multi-threat talent — actor, comedian, director, producer, writer, songwriter, rapper, singer — Donald Glover is likely the only actor who would find signing on to play the young Lando Calrissian in a Star Wars prequel liberating, rather than stress-inducing. In a recent interview with Deadline, Glover discussed what it’s like to play his “favorite character” and how you can still be an artist when working for a “huge conglomerate” like Disney.
It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also very exciting. He was my favorite character, too. I grew up on ‘Star Wars’. It’s just cool to see him again. I feel like people like him ’cause he has a lot of style, but also he’s a complicated character in this world. I think even Han isn’t as complicated as Lando is. From the first time you meet him, you don’t know whether to trust him or not, and you’re constantly not knowing whether to trust him. I like that about him. For working under, like, a huge conglomerate, it’s actually been quite an enjoyable, artistic thing. I get to play him in a way that I think is honest and true and cool. And it’s great ’cause I didn’t have to write anything, I’m focused strictly on being this guy. And I really respect him and I respect the actor who played him before. I’ve learned a lot about this character, so it’s actually been really fulfilling and nice to just turn off everything else and focus on just being someone.
And, speaking of Lando, we got a look at Glover’s scoundrel ‘stache courtesy of Woody Harrelson, who co-stars in the movie as a mentor figure to young Han Solo, played by Alden Ehrenreich.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller are directing from a script by Lawrence and Jon Kasdan. Thandie Newton, Emilia Clarke, Pheobe Waller-Bridge and Michael K. Williams also star in unrevealed roles, with Joona Suotamo as Chewbacca.
The Untitled Han Solo movie is slated for release in 2018.
