A$AP x Star Wars? Find out which rapper auditioned to play Lando Calrissian
|
By
Dan Girolamo Published May 6, 2025 |
The Force was almost with A$AP Rocky.
The Grammy-nominated rapper previously auditioned to play the role of Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story. In an interview with Variety, Rocky shared his brutally honest review of his tryout for Star Wars.
“I auditioned for Star Wars, and my audition was trash,” Rocky told Variety. “I was trash that day.”
The role ultimately went to Donald Glover, who also goes by his musical stage name, Childish Gambino. While Solo failed critically and financially, Glover received positive reviews for his performance, with Rocky being one of his biggest supporters.
“My man Childish Gambino was a way better Lando than I would’ve provided at that time,” Rocky explained. “And I think he looked a little more like [Billy Dee Williams] than me.”
Despite the failed audition, Rocky would happily take another shot at joining the Star Wars universe.
Released in 2018, Solo starred Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, a smuggler who will one day become a hero for the Rebel Alliance in the battle against the Galactic Empire. Solo takes place approximately 10 years before Star Wars: A New Hope and chronicles the dangerous heist involving the Kessel Run. The movie introduces Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), Han’s eventual co-pilot, and Lando, the cunning smuggler who lends him the iconic Millennium Falcon.
Billy Dee Williams originated the role of Lando in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Williams later reappeared as Lando in The Rise of Skywalker.
In December 2020, Lucasfilm announced a Lando limited series at Disney+. Three years later, Stephen Glover, Donald’s brother and collaborator, revealed Lando had shifted from a TV show to a movie. The movie remains in development.
Rocky will next be seen in Highest 2 Lowest, Spike Lee’s crime thriller starring Denzel Washington. The movie will premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Highest 2 Lowest opens in theaters on August 22 and streams on Apple TV+ on September 5.
Related Posts
You can now enjoy Substack on a TV, if that’s your idea of fun times
The app, which has just rolled out for Apple TV and Google TV, basically takes the video content and livestreams from the creators you already subscribe to and splashes them onto the biggest screen in your house. It is a smart, calculated move toward what the tech industry calls a "lean-back" experience. Instead of hunching over a laptop or squinting at a smartphone screen to watch a forty-minute interview or a deep-dive lecture, you can now throw it on the TV while you cook dinner, fold laundry, or just relax on the couch.
Wondering if YouTube TV is worth it? This new promo will help you decide without hurting your wallet
Typically, YouTube TV offers a 7-day free trial, after which subscribers pay $82.99 per month for the streaming service. Under the new promotion, subscribers can enjoy a 10-day free trial and pay just $59.99 per month for the first two months.
Netflix’s latest move is huge for movie theaters, and fantastic for you and I
In April 2025, Sarandos previously stated that he loved theaters but thought that theatrical moviegoing is an “outmoded idea, for most people, not for everybody.” As a result, Netflix's purchase of Warner Bros. ignited backlash and fears over the film industry's future.