Star Wars 9 SHOCK: Billy Dee Williams ‘CONFIRMED for Lando Calrissian RETURN’

The 81-year-old legend hasn’t played Lando in almost 40 years, but now it looks like he’s confirmed for Star Wars: Episode IX.

The news is claimed by Fantha Tracks who say “we were asked by our original source to verify this another independent source before we ran it.

“We did that, confirming that this is indeed correct.”

An official announcement of his casting in Star Wars 9 is expected in the near future since Episode IX stars shooting next month.

The source claims follow a report last month that Williams has been getting into shape and changed his diet.

As a former Star Wars actor Billy does the convention rounds and most recently appeared at MegaCon Orlando.

The convention’s official Twitter account wrote: “Fun Billy Dee Williams fact: Billy just had his 81st birthday.

“He’s training three times a week with a trainer and has a whole new diet.”

This little factoid has managed to excite some Star Wars fans as a new regime of diet and exercise is exactly what Fisher and Hamill were asked to take on before appearing in The Force Awakens.

It would certainly make sense for Billy to be cast in Star Wars 9 as the other original trilogy actors are now incapacitated.

Ford’s Han died in The Force Awakens and Hamill’s Luke became one with the Force in The Last Jedi – although he could return as a Force ghost.

Meanwhile Fisher’s Leia was supposed to play a big role in Episode IX, but the actress sadly died shortly after completing production on The Last Jedi in 2016.

There’s an obvious original trilogy mentor gap for Rey, Finn and Poe left wide open.

So who better to literally get into shape and don his flashy cape once more than Lando Calrissian himself?

After all, they’re going to need all the help they can get against Supreme Leader Kylo Ren.

Star Wars Episode IX is released in UK cinemas on December 19, 2019.