50 Roles for 50 Actors: Dream casting the Star Wars saga
By Dan Selcke
Dream casting the Star Wars saga: Idris Elba as Lando Calrissian
Like Han Solo, Lando Calrissian is a rogue with a heart of gold. Well, a heart of silver. An old friend of Han’s, Calrissian takes in Luke and company when they’re on the run in The Empire Strikes Back. However, he bows to pressure from Darth Vader and turns in his friends in exchange for the Empire allowing him to operate his clandestine mining colony. His conscience eventually gets the better of him, but only after the Empire pushes him. Lando is a man of complex motivations.
Idris Elba is no stranger to characters with complex motivations, whether it’s Stringer Bell on The Wire or John Luther on Luther. He also has a commanding presence that makes him a great choice to play leaders like Lando—hell, he even played a spaceship captain in Prometheus, so playing the one-time captain of the Millennium Falcon should be easy.
Moreover, Elba has a natural charisma that will fit a smooth-talking businessman like Calrissian. We are talking about an actor people the world over think would make a great James Bond, here. He’s a consummate professional and a supple, magnetic performer. Elba will provide whatever the role needs, and he’ll look good doing it.
Next: Another victim of psychic strangulation