Rian Johnson confirms Lando Calrissian will not appear in The Last Jedi

THE LAST JEDI is already drawing a ton of comparisons to THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, from Rey (Daisy Ridley) going off to a remote location to train with a seasoned Jedi (Luke, Mark Hamill), more exposure of General Snoke (same as the Emperor), and an assault from AT-AT-looking machines. EMPIRE also has the introduction of one of the series’ most beloved characters, Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), but director Rian Johnson has confirmed that’s one similarity these movies do not share.

Although the new movies have seen Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Hamill and more come back, Johnson confirmed with EW that bringing back Lando for this movie was never in the cards and that he lives to crush all fans’ dreams:

No, and I don’t want fans to get their hopes up. He’s not in the film and it was never really something that came up. I mean, I loved that character. It would have been fun to see him, but it’s just not something that ever really had a place in the story.

Williams probably would’ve jumped at the chance to return for more movies, as he’s returned some of his past roles in other forms. He’s voiced Lando on the series STAR WARS: REBELS, as well as for ROBOT CHICKEN. He even returned to voice Harvey Dent in THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (he played the role in Tim Burton’s BATMAN), even if it seems most of his dialogue made it to the cutting room floor. Though Williams’ Lando won’t make another appearance, the character will make a big screen return this May when SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY hits theaters, with actor Donald Glover playing a younger version of the role.

Out of all the people who have come back to reprise their old STAR WARS roles, I’m sort of surprised they haven’t thought to bring back Lando, especially after FORCE AWAKENS *spoiler* saw the death of Han Solo (Ford). You’d think he’d show up for some kind of space funeral. Or, who knows, maybe this is just a ruse and the character has some sort of awesome cameo role in the movie. I see what you're doing, Johnson. Yeah, Lando isn't in this movie *wink wink*

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI arrives December 15.