Movies - TV
Why Billy Dee Williams Was Hesitant To Play Lando In Star Wars
By JEREMY SMITH
When Billy Dee Williams was offered the part of Lando Calrissian in “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back,” he was hesitant to take it at first.
In an interview for John Phillip Peecher's 1983 tome “Star Wars: The Making of ‘Return of the Jedi,’” Williams discussed his fear that he was being typecasted.
He told Peecher, “I had some reservations about doing ‘The Empire Strikes Back.’ I thought that perhaps Lando was just another romantic character.”
Ultimately, it was director Irvin Kershner who convinced Williams to take the role. Williams said of him, “He is part of the new breed of filmmaker, and I wanted to be part of that.”