Star Wars Episode 9: Is Billy Dee Williams reprising the role of Lando Calrissian?

Billy Dee Williams joined the Star Wars universe in the second instalment of the original trilogy The Empire Strikes Back as Lando Calrissian.

Lando is a smooth-talking former smuggler turned Cloud City mining baron with a penchant for fashionable capes.

Fans were treated to a young version of Lando, played by Donald Glover in the recently released Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Is Billy Dee Williams reprising the role of Lando Calrissian in Episode 9?

Sources confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Williams will indeed be returning to the Star Wars film franchise for the first time since 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY: WHAT IS THE STAR WARS MOVIE TIMELINE?

The still unnamed ninth instalment of the recent Star Wars sequels features Rey as the hero, alongside ex-stormtrooper Finn and resident flyboy Poe Dameron.

Episode IX is being directed by J.J. Abrams and will also include Adam Driver.

Keri Russell is one of the newest additions to the cast, in an unnamed role.

The contemporary trilogy also had fan favourites returning to the set – Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher all reprised their roles.

STAR WARS: HAN SOLO – IS DARTH MAUL ALIVE IN SOLO? WHY?

But after Fisher’s death in 2016, Episode 9 is lacking in original trilogy guidance.

Unlike his former co-stars, Williams did not leave the role of Lando behind.

He voiced Lando in “everything from the controversial Star Wars: Battlefront II to random episodes of Robot Chicken.”

New information tweeted by MegaCon stated Williams is exercising three times a week with a trainer and has a new diet.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY: WHO IS ERIN KELLYMAN? WHO DOES SHE PLAY?

These were the same steps Hamill and others had to undergo as they took up their lightsabers once more.

Williams told The Hollywood Reporter he would not mind reprising the role on the big screen, during a time when rumours about his appearance in The Last Jedi were circulating.

Solo: A Star Wars Story suffered major setbacks when their initial directing duo was fired and replaced by Ron Howard, leading to reshoots and cast changes.

Now it seems likely Lando will wind up back in the Millennium Falcon cockpit once again as part of the main Star Wars universe.

Star Wars Episode IX is in cinemas Thursday, December 19, 2019.