Justin Simien Confirms: The Lando Spinoff Series is Not Happening
The highly anticipated Solo: A Star Wars Story spinoff series, Lando, which was set to star Donald Glover, has been officially shelved. In a recent interview with Collider, Justin Simien, the project's would-be showrunner, confirmed that the series is no longer in development.
The Rise and Fall of Lando
The announcement of the Lando series back in 2020 generated significant buzz among Star Wars fans. Donald Glover's portrayal of Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story was a standout performance, and fans were eager to see more of his charismatic take on the iconic character. With Justin Simien, known for his critically acclaimed Netflix series Dear White People, at the helm, expectations were high.
Simien's involvement promised a unique and thoughtful approach to the character and story. He shared that the project was well into development, with a Bible, concept art, and scripts already prepared. However, despite these advancements, the project ultimately fell through.
Simien's Reaction
In his interview, Simien expressed his disappointment but also shared his perspective on moving forward. “It was pretty developed,” he said. “There was a Bible. There was concept art. There were scripts. But it just wasn't meant to be.” He spoke candidly about his feelings, stating, “For me, it has to be done pretty straight on. Like, ‘I am in grief. I do not feel good.' I have to let myself feel those feelings.”
Despite the setback, Simien remains optimistic about the experiences and lessons he gained during the development process. “There's so much that I experience that I get to keep forever and take into the next project,” he reflected. “I can't obviously take the storyline or the IP or the characters, but there's so much more that I got, as a maker, and that's mine.”
The Future of Star Wars and Simien's Projects
The reasons behind the cancellation of Lando remain unclear. Disney+ has not provided an official explanation for the project's demise. This leaves fans speculating about the potential reasons, ranging from creative differences to strategic shifts in the streaming platform's content lineup.
However, Justin Simien is not slowing down. He is currently promoting Hollywood Black, an MGM+ docuseries based on Donald Bogle's book that explores race and representation in Hollywood. The series aims to shed light on the contributions and challenges faced by Black talent in the film industry. Hollywood Black is set to premiere on August 11 on MGM+ and promises to be an insightful and thought-provoking series.
Additionally, Simien has another exciting project on the horizon—a live-action Star Trek comedy series starring Tawny Newsome. Announced at San Diego Comic-Con, this new series follows Federation outsiders on a resort planet, whose day-to-day exploits are broadcast across the quadrant. “I literally grew up watching that show and wishing I could go to space,” Simien told Collider. “I'm living that childhood dream right now.”
A Look Back at Dear White People
Before diving into these new ventures, it's worth reflecting on Simien's journey and success with Dear White People. The series, which ran for three seasons on Netflix, was a critical success and garnered a dedicated fanbase. It tackled complex themes of race, identity, and social justice with humor and intelligence, cementing Simien's reputation as a talented storyteller and filmmaker.
Conclusion
While the cancellation of the Lando series is a disappointment for many Star Wars fans, Justin Simien's career continues to flourish. His upcoming projects, Hollywood Black and the Star Trek comedy series, are highly anticipated and showcase his versatility and passion for storytelling. As fans, we can look forward to seeing what Simien creates next and hope that one day, the galaxy far, far away might still see the return of Donald Glover's Lando Calrissian.
