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Credit: Lucasfilm/DisneyLando Calrissian’s sexuality has been a topic of discussion among Star Wars fans for some time now. The issue has never been more prevalent than just after Donald Glover’s portrayal of the role in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). Many fans felt there was a LOT of flirting going on with Lando and Alden Ehrenreich’s young Han Solo. Following the release of the film Solo writer, Jonathan Kasdan, said the character was pansexual. However, nothing regarding this had ever been confirmed.
Until now.
Announcing a run of celebratory Pride Month comic issues, Star Wars has officially confirmed Calrissian’s sexuality by placing him on the cover of one of the upcoming issues.
Star Wars said:
“This Pride Month, gay and transgender artists will pay homage to some of the LGBTQ+ characters inhabiting a galaxy far, far away in a special line of variant comic book covers.”
The June issues of the Marvel Comics series will feature a range of other LGBTQ+ Star Wars characters, such as Doctor Aphra, the archaeologist recruited by Darth Vader, and Jedi twins, Terec and Ceret. The announcement lets fans know what they can expect from the cover, saying:
“…the smooth-talking scoundrel Lando Calrissian will be decked out in style on the cover of Star Wars #14, illustrated by Stephen Byrne.”
Back in 2018, Kasdan talked to HuffPost about how he’d “loved to have gotten a more explicitly LGBT character into [Solo]”.
It is interesting now, three years after Solo, to have Lando’s pansexuality confirmed as Star Wars canon — and only time will tell if this part of the character’s identity will be explored further. I guess we will have to wait until Disney+ launches its Lando series to see what will happen.
Star Wars miniseries Lando is an upcoming event series. No official details have been shared yet apart from Justin Simien (Dear White People) is in early stages of development. It will be interesting to see if Ehrenreich returns as the young Han Solo if Glover — otherwise known as Childish Gambino — is also being lined up to star for this new show in the Star Wars galaxy.
Twitter user, Ethan (@sheevthan), shared some thoughts, saying:
“Wait Lando canonically pansexual??[…] ik this was supported by creators but did not know it was confirmed”
Wait Lando canonically pansexual?? ?? ik this was supported by creators but did not know it was confirmed pic.twitter.com/JLDy9rc8k5
— Ethan ? (@sheevthan) March 18, 2021
A response by Wesley reads:
“If they can get around to confirming him as mlm before his tv series written by a gay man […] could be big”
If they can get around to confirming him as mlm before his tv series written by a gay man ?? could be big
— Ethan ? (@sheevthan) March 18, 2021
This is alluding to the fact Simien is an openly gay man, having shared his sexuality during the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. As the Walt Disney Company owned brands continue to diversify their creative roster and tell diverse stories, this is a big step in their mission for inclusion.
Who is Lando Calrissian?
Lando was the original owner of the Millennium Falcon before he lost it to Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in a bet. A smuggler and a gambler, he became the Administrator of Cloud City and then a General in the Rebel Alliance alongside Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher). The role was originated by Billy Dee Williams, who reprised his role in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019), with young Lando being played by Donald Glover.
He famously betrayed Han Solo, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) by selling them out to Darth Vader, Boba Fett and the Galactic Empire. However, Lando redeemed himself in the conclusion to the original trilogy — and the Skywalker Saga for the time being — by aiding in the destruction of the second Death Star.
Many fans believe that Lando Calrissian is the father of sequel trilogy character, Jannah. This is something that could potentially be further explored in the Lando show, as actress Naomi Ackie has previously shared she is open to reprising her Star Wars role.
The Lando Calrissian series was announced by Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy at the end of last year, alongside Ahsoka — the miniseries starring fan-favorite Jedi and The Clone Wars alum, Ahsoka Tano, and Rogue Squadron, a new Star Wars adventure feature film directed by Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman). The Ahsoka series will take place within the same timeline as the bounty hunter television shows, The Mandalorian Season 3 and The Book of Boba Fett.
Will you be getting a Pride Month issue of the Star Wars comics?