In these last few years, the Star Wars fan forums have continued to flood with rumors and theories suggesting family connections between the saga’s various characters, from the ongoing speculation on who Rey’s ‘true’ parents could be, to attempts at connecting Finn to the wider saga. At this point, family-related rumors have practically become a forum cliché, albeit a fitting one, given the Original and Prequel Trilogies’ fixation on the theme. But while the recent hearsay that Naomi Ackie is playing Lando Calrissian’s daughter Vera in Star Wars: Episode IX should be taken with the usual grain of salt, a new piece from Screen Rant makes the compelling case that one tie-in book may have already laid the groundwork for Lando’s offspring to be revealed.
The 2018 novel Last Shot was written by Daniel José Older and was released shortly before the premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Set three years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the book sees Lando living once more in Bespin where he bumps into an old flame named Kasha Bateen. Ultimately falling head-over-heels in love with the former Twi’lek freedom fighter, Lando decides to settle down with Kasha and start a family.
Though it’s yet to be confirmed that Lando has a daughter, let alone that Naomi Ackie is playing her, the book does make it highly likely that Billy Dee Williams’ character has at least one child roaming the galaxy, and with the actor set to return in J.J. Abrams’ next film, it’s surely not too much of a stretch to suggest that one of his kids – who should be a fully grown adult by now – might also be making an appearance.
Granted, it’s still just rumor and speculation for the time being, but all will be revealed when Star Wars: Episode IX hits theaters on December 20th, 2019.