Donald Glover Aims to Reintroduce Joy to the Star Wars Universe
Donald Glover, renowned for his portrayal of young Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story, is eager to revive a sense of playfulness within the Star Wars franchise.
When discussing Star Wars, it’s often easy to overlook its origins as a whimsical trilogy filled with grand explosions, absurd plot twists, and a tiny green puppet offering surprisingly profound wisdom. While there is certainly space for gravitas in this expansive universe, the current trend leans towards more serious narratives. Popular shows like The Mandalorian and The Acolyte often prioritize dramatic storytelling, leaving viewers reminiscing about the series’ lighter roots. Glover, who is also recognized for his musical talents under the name Childish Gambino, hopes his upcoming film centered on Lando will bring back that joyful essence.
In a recent video interview with the Wall Street Journal, Glover expressed his desire to restore fun to the franchise, stating, "I just want it to be fun. As a Star Wars fan myself, I think it’s important that there’s just – there just needs to be more fun being had." He acknowledged the challenges of finding joy in a world filled with serious issues, reflecting that while these concerns connect us, the human experience necessitates moments of enjoyment, which he feels are in short supply.
"I’m a huge fan of Star Wars, but there are times when it feels overwhelmingly serious, especially everything tied to the Skywalkers," Glover said with a chuckle. His initial foray into portraying the iconic character took place in the 2018 prequel, Solo: A Star Wars Story. Originally, there were plans to adapt Lando into a series for Disney Plus, with Justin Simien, known for directing Dear White People and Haunted Mansion, set to be the showrunner.
However, Disney has since shifted gears, opting to develop Lando as a standalone film instead. Glover and his brother Stephen have taken on the task of writing the screenplay for the project, which currently lacks a release date.
As anticipation builds for Glover’s interpretation, fans share in his hope that the forthcoming film will inject some much-needed fun back into a galaxy far, far away.