New writers for Star Wars series Lando

Lando is still coming to Disney+, but writer Justin Simien has been replaced and someone else will write the Star Wars series. Donald Glover, who starred as Lando Calrissian in the 2018 prequel film Solo: A Star Wars Story, will co-write the series with his brother Stephen Glover. The pair replace Justin Simien, who reportedly left the project last summer.



Above the Line revealed the following about the change, which was quietly enacted before the writers' strike:

The Glover brothers (pictured) replace director Justin Simien (Dear White People) in the project, which was first announced by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy in December 2020 as part of Disney Investor Day. At the time, it was not yet said whether Donald Glover or Billy Dee Williams would return as Lando, although current plans clearly call for Donald's return, as it is unlikely that he would write the script for another actor to portray the smooth-talking smuggler.

In an interview with GQ in April, Donald Glover, who is also known for FX comedy-drama series Atlanta, said the following about the project:

“I’m not interested in doing anything that is going to be a waste of my time or just a paycheck. I would much rather spend time with people I enjoy. It just has to be the right thing, which I think it could be. Lando is definitely somebody I’d like to hang out with. We’re talking about it. That’s as much as I can say.”

The series was reportedly in the works as early as December 2020. A Disney+ premiere date for Lando will be announced at a later date.