Donald Glover Soars from “Atlanta” to “Star Wars”

Expect a few changes when FXamp8217s groundbreaking series Atlanta returns for a second season later this yearamp160 That is to say as was the case throughout Season 1 the show is going to continue to break boundaries and defy expectations week to weekamp160 amp8220We definitely went into this season trying to figure out what we liked about the first seasonamp8221 series creator executive producer and star Donald Glover told members of the Television Critics Association on Fridayamp160 amp8220We werenamp8217t trying to think about it in terms of sitcoms or like tropes or what had come before amp160We really tried to just devolve what television was amp160So we just went into this asking like amp8216Why are we going to do Season 2amp8217amp160 In the writersamp8217 room we talked a lot about How I Spent My Summer Vacation by the Tiny Toons amp160It was our favorite as kidsamp8221Look no further than the showamp8217s title to see the biggest difference a primary theme that will run throughout It will be known as Atlanta Robbinamp8217 Season amp160Donaldamp8217s brother Stephen an executive producer and writer on the show explained the termamp160 amp8220Robbinamp8217 Season for most of you who donamp8217t know is a time in Atlanta right before Christmastime and New Yearamp8217samp8221 he saidamp160 amp8220Itamp8217s basically like a bunch of crime happens in the city during that time as people just have more stuff and money and people need money amp160Itamp8217s a time when all kinds of robberies go up amp160Itamp8217s a very tense and desperate time so we wanted to kind of make that the backdrop to the season amp160Our characters are kind of going through that same desperate type of transition from their old lives to where they are heading nowamp8221For Donald the success of Atlanta is just one element of a trajectory that began last year with the accolades bestowed upon the series and the actor which included two TCA Awards for Individual Achievement in Comedy and Outstanding Achievement in Comedy for the series along with Golden Globe Emmy and Critics Choice awards to name just a few amp160That trajectory culminated last year with a star turn playing young Lando Calrissian a role originated by Billy Dee Williams in Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back in the soon to be released Star Wars prequel Solo A Star Wars StoryThatamp8217s an experience that left the 34yearold star struck amp160amp8220A big part of that whole experience was getting to bring my dad to the setamp8221 Donald told MediaVillage after the Atlanta panel amp160amp8220I remember growing up and he was like amp8216This is cool he39s the only black guy in spaceamp8217 and then it was cool that he got to walk on the Millennium Falconamp8221 amp160Donald said the legendary spacecraft is amp8220just a beautiful piece of architecture and flying it is really funamp8221Williams offered him a little guidance when it came to filling Calrissianamp8217s boots Donald recalledamp160 amp8220He just told me to be charmingamp160 I thought that was the best piece of adviceamp8221Despite reported behindthescenes drama that included original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller being replaced by Ron Howard Glover insists that overall his Star Wars experience was amp8220a blastamp8221 amp160He also assured that nothing really changed when it came to the movieamp8217s production after Howard stepped in to helm it amp160amp8220It was actually good having another person there who was like amp8216What do you think of thisamp8217 amp160Ron grew up under George Lucas and really is a fan himselfamp8220I remember one of the first times going on the set and Ron was like amp8216I want to follow you onto the Millennium Falcon and do this thingamp8217 amp160I was like amp8216I don39t think I39ve ever seen a shot from the outside going into the insideamp8217amp160 He was like amp8216Yeah no one has ever done that shotamp8217amp160 I thought that was coolamp160 I know there39s been a lot of talk in the press about this movie but for me it was a dream and it was just really cool to meamp8221Glover also revealed his approach to entering the sacred Star Wars galaxyamp160amp160 amp8220Just take time and be honest with yourselfamp8221 he said amp160Itamp8217s something heamp8217s applying to an upcoming project for FXX an animated Deadpool series created by him and his brother Stephen and slated to premiere later this year amp160amp8220I know people love Deadpool and I know people who are comic geeks but it39s not the same as Lando or Atlanta where you have a whole city on your back amp160Deadpool was very aware of himself so I don39t have to live up to anything and it39s actually been quite easyamp8221Atlanta Robbinamp8217 Season premieres March 1 on FXamp160 Solo A Star Wars Story is slated for theatrical release May 25Click on the social media tiles above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively those of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggers

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Donald Glover Soars from “Atlanta” to “Star Wars”

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Donald Glover Soars from “Atlanta” to “Star Wars”

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Steve Gidlow

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