Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi is pegged to be one of the biggest film releases of the year. It's very likely that this film going to surpass previous records and even more so create some of its own. However, there is one thing that seems out of place. Literally so. It's a character, an actor, who played an important role in the original trilogy and was certain beloved, and yet is strikingly missing, and even more so. Unmentioned.
It's Lando, or more specifically Billy Dee Williams.
Since Disney's purchase of the franchise, they've focused on the future of the franchise through various forms of media, including, video games, movies, and TV shows. The most notable of these is the sequel trilogy starring the original cast as well as a brand new set of characters and stories to be told. But out of the original cast, Billy Dee Williams is noticeably absent from this trilogy of films. Even more so, very little attention has been brought to the subject aside from the occasional article addressing that "no" he will not be in the film. But more noticeable, is how very little attention is being given to it because of this.
However, Lando is set to appear in the upcoming Han Solo movie, in which he will be played by Donald Glover. This will be his first return to the big screen, in which is something that is drastically overdue for the character. But there is still that uneasy feeling in which his character feels forgetting in the post Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi era. However when one logs at the plot elements of the previous film, Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens we see the death of a major character, who had a massive connection with the character of Lando, but even then his character and that relationship seem almost forgotten about.
I'm a huge fan of the franchise, I love seeing it grow and change following Disney's purchase, however, it seems almost cruel to leave this character behind as they make the next series of film and stories. Although it does hang the overall questions as to "why" he isn't appearing the films at all. Williams himself is very protective of the character, and I have no personal doubt that he would want to return to the character again in the future of the star wars films. But I'm still very curious as to why he isn't appearing, if not for the very least of getting a long overdue cameo at some point in the film. In either case, I'm excited to see the continuation of the series, and hopefully his character as well.
