I will not lie .. my black geek god is starring on tonight’s Star Wars Rebels and Billy Dee Williams (link to YouTube interview) returns as smooth-talking scoundrel Lando Calrissian in an all-new Star Wars Rebels episode, “Idiot’s Array!” So you know I’m going to not only watch but record for posterity!
I remember the excitement as a kid seeing him in ‘Empire Strikes Back’ and just shivering. My grandmother LOVED him and thought he was the most debonair sexy man ever. As a kid I appreciated his voice of honey (smooth, deep rich timbre) and his rich melanin tone. I think he was one of the first black people in a Sci Fi movie I’d seen (other than Star Trek). I swear my dad and I talked about WHY no people of color could be found in Sci Fi movies. Did all the writers and casting agents assume in the future their would be some huge race war and all the ‘colords’ lost so were sent to either a reservation or killed off??? Now as much as I love Star Wars (if you know me you KNOW I love Star Wars ALOT in a crazy fan stalker way) when Lando turned out to be a bit of a villain .. well didn’t like that. But he did redeem himself and his motivation was out of love for his citizens to keep them safe but … who can remain mad at Lando? He had major swag before I even knew the word, had a cool cape that he wore with aplomb AND he was black!
I’m super excited that Star Wars Rebels has his iconic character as a guest tonight. I’m hoping he’ll be back to reprise his role AND that he’s a good guy!
How do you like your Lando? A devil may care wastrel or a good guy on the side of the Jedi Rebels? Leave a comment below!
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