In a recent episode of EW’s Dagobah Dispatch podcast, Billy Dee Williams addressed the longstanding controversy surrounding Lando’s betrayal of Han Solo in ‘The Empire Strikes Back.’
This discussion emerged as part of the narrative in Williams’ upcoming memoir, ‘What Have We Here?’ set for release on February 13. Williams, 86, shared his experiences dealing with the backlash from Star Wars fans, some of whom expressed disappointment in Lando’s actions. Recalling instances from his personal life, he said:
“When I would pick my daughter up from school, the kids would run up to me and say, ‘You betrayed Han Solo!’ I’d go on an airplane, and the airplane stewards would say, ‘You betrayed Han Solo!’ I got that for a lot of years.”
Saying he had enough at some point, the actor explained his character’s dilemma in ‘The Empire Strikes Back,’ where Lando Calrissian faced a dire choice:
“So finally, I said, ‘Look, think about the whole situation. You’re up against a pretty formidable character in Darth Vader. And then there’s, of course, Boba Fett. These people were invading my space, and I had to bargain with them. But the bargain at least prevented the complete demise of Han Solo and his friends. But I had to hold on to my whole situation.'”
During the conversation, Williams also recalled his first scene shot as Lando, which he saw as a pivotal moment in his career. According to the actor, his focus was on portraying the character without letting his ethnicity be the point.
You can listen to the rest of the interview below.
Latest Updates About Star Wars Universe
Williams was the first black actor with a major role in the Star Wars franchise, appearing in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980) and later in ‘Return of the Jedi'(1983), as well as in the recent ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019). Reportedly, there is an upcoming film named ‘Lando,’ starring Glover as the character.
In related news, the Star Wars universe continues to expand. Three new films set in different eras of the franchise were announced in April 2023. Besides, Jon Favreau is set to direct a new film titled ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu.’
As for Williams, fans can hear more from the actor in his upcoming memoir and his voice works in the animated TV series ‘Star Wars: Detours.‘
