A$AP Rocky once auditioned for the role of Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story, but the opportunity didn’t go as he had intended. In a new cover story with Variety, the Harlem multi-hyphenate reflected on how important it is for him to be involved in his creative endeavors, including any acting roles that come his way.
One role, in particular, required Rocky to step outside of his comfort zone, but he wasn’t totally prepared for it.
According to Lord Pretty Flacko, he auditioned for the role of the beloved Lando Calrissian in the 2018 film Solo: A Solo Story, but it ended up going to Donald Glover. Rocky claimed he didn’t land the role because of how “trash” he was during the audition.
“I auditioned for Star Wars — for Lando — and my audition was trash. I was trash that day,” said Rocky. “My man Childish Gambino [Donald Glover] was a way better Lando than I would’ve provided at that time. And I think he looked a little more like [Billy Dee Williams] than me.”
Rocky fans who love Star Wars shouldn’t worry, though, as the rapper revealed he’s open to auditioning for another role in the legendary film franchise.
Billy Dee Williams was the first actor to portray the role of Lando in The Empire Strikes Back, which was released in 1980. He returned to play Lando in Return of the Jedi back in 1983, but fans wouldn’t see the character return to the big screen after that until 2018’s Solo, which told the story of a young Han Solo and Chewbacca.
Glover’s portrayal of the character was praised by critics, inlcuding USA Today‘s Bryan Alexander, who wrote that Glover’s Lando “outshone and out swaggered” the film’s main character, Han Solo.
Rocky has been steadily building his acting résumé with roles in films such as Dope and Monster. His latest role will be in the upcoming Spike Lee film Highest 2 Lowest, where he will star alongside Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and more.
