How Lando Calrissian Could Save the Resistance in Episode IX

Following new rumours that Billy Dee Williams is preparing to return as Lando Calrissian in Star Wars Episode IX, I’ve been left to consider what sort of a role he could play in this final film of the trilogy. With Han, Luke and technically Leia gone, the role that Lando plays could end up being very significant, and could even save the Resistance completely. But how could he do this?

Could Lando save the Resistance?

First let’s consider the state of the Resistance at the end of The Last Jedi. In the course of the film they’ve lost their entire fleet, with the only remaining ship being the Millennium Falcon. They’ve also lost a large number of soldiers, with all those remaining escaping on the Falcon at the end of the film. So they’re left with very limited supplies, no fleet, and very few soldiers. In other words, they are certainly in no position to take on the First Order who, although unstable, still have star destroyers to spare.

In The Last Jedi they mentioned support in the Outer Rim, but no-one seemed too keen to help in the film, so I think it’s fair to assume that they lack the support of any substantial military force. The Resistance is pretty much isolated at the end of the film.

The remnants of the Resistance escaped on the Falcon in The Last Jedi

So what could Lando do to help? We don’t really know what he’s been up to in the time between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, but I think we can make some assumptions. We know that Han had returned to life as a smuggler, so it’s fair to assume that Lando returned to his old ways as well. This would probably mean spending his days in casinos, cheating his way into large sums of money and entertaining everyone with his charm and exaggerated stories.  

I hope we see him come to the aid of the Resistance in Episode IX, and he would certainly be in the position to do so. I have no doubt that he would have plenty of money, with a large enough influence that he would be able to pull together a small fleet for the Resistance. So he could be in the position to help the Resistance rebuild, and I think he would definitely be willing to do so.

Lando could have returned to gambling after Return of the Jedi

It’s also possible that we could see a large time jump between The Last Jedi and Episode IX, where Lando has been working with the Resistance for quite some time. This could work better than a small time jump where we see the Resistance go to Lando for help, as it gives both sides time to rebuild for a final, climactic battle.           

I guess we can’t be sure of the role Lando will play in Episode IX, if any. I just hope we see him return to screen, as I think it would fit in really well with the trilogy and give Lando the representation he deserves, especially after being left out of the last two films. Let’s just hope they don’t kill him off.