Star Wars fans may have thought that the "old guard," meaning characters from the original trilogy, would be completely gone from Episode IX. It was supposed to be Leia's movie, but Carrie Fisher's unexpected death in December of 2016 changed those plans. But now there's Lando Calrission. Yes, Billy Dee Williams will be reprising his role from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Chatter about Williams joining the production, which is set to begin later this summer, increased in recent days when the actor bowed out of an upcoming sci-fi and pop culture convention citing a conflict with a movie schedule. Sources confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Williams will indeed be returning to the Star Wars film franchise for the first time since 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
Star Wars: Episode IX has yet to be named, but is scheduled to open December 20, 2019. -via The AV Club