Later this month, Billy Dee Williams will return to the screen as Lando Calrissian in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, something he thought would never happen.
Speaking to Variety, Williams spoke about the experience he had stepping back into his iconic role after so many years.
"It was fun. I really enjoyed it," said Williams. "I'm older now, so for me, it's more a source of amusement than anything else. I never expected to be back in that costume or in the movie, so I still kind of chuckle about the whole thing. I knew people were clamoring for Lando to come back, but I didn't feel like that would happen. It's a nice feeling to be welcomed back."
After Return of the Jedi in 1983, Williams would go on to voice Lando Calrissian in other Star Wars-related media, including video games like Star Wars: Battlefront II and two episodes of Star Wars Rebels in 2015. The upcoming Rise of Skywalker film will mark the first time Williams will reprise his role in a live-action setting.
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Matt Smith, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. The film arrives on Dec. 20.