If one were to ask a random group of Star Wars fans how much screen time Boba Fett gets in the original Star Wars trilogy, there would likely not be a consensus. However, the correct answer is a mere five minutes across three movies, despite the character’s adoration across the fanbase.
In comparison, in the Disney+ seriesThe Mandalorian, the protagonist (affectionately referred to as ‘Mando’, short for Mandalorian) is literally the star of the show. However,Boba Fett makes a dramatic surprise appearancetowards the end of the second season ofThe Mandalorian. He increases his screen time over six-fold on the show compared to the entire original Star Wars trilogy. Still and all, audiences still have an extremely vague idea of who Boba Fett is beneath his forest-green armored suit. The open-book nature of Boba Fett’s origin story and journey will allowThe Book of Boba Fettto greatly differentiate itself fromThe Mandalorian.
RELATED:The Book Of Boba Fett Has An Official Release Date
BeforeThe Mandalorian, the last time audiences saw Boba Fett he was presumed dead in the clutches of the Sarlacc Pit. Rumors of his death have been put to bed, yet we don’t know how he survived a grotesque demise. This is one of the many questions that answer-thirsty audiences will have going intoThe Book of Boba Fett.
Contrast Boba Fett’s mysterious nature to Mando’s. At the inception ofThe Mandalorian, Mando is a mysterious hunter. All audiences know is he’s as short in speech as he is efficient at his bounty-hunting duties. Mando’s metaphorical armor begins to crack when a mission dictates he delivers ‘The Child’ (Grogu) to the remnants of the Intergalactic Empire. Though he wears an emotionless helmet and kills with ease, Mando slowly starts to show semblances of emotion, attachment, and a conscience as the series progresses. By the time the second season concludes,Mando is more of a herothan an anti-hero.
One easy and obvious wayThe Book of Boba Fettcan stand apart fromThe Mandalorianis by not indulging in the father-son relationship that Mando and Grogu have. IfThe Book of Boba Fettcan merely focus on the bounty hunter’s past and where his journey is taking him next, it will stand on its own. Boba Fett is sure to have more lore than Mando, given his age alone.
In the original Star Wars trilogy, Boba Fett is in the employ of the Intergalactic Empire, not unlike how Mando begins his journey. However, unlike Mando, Boba Fett lives and ‘dies’ as a villain (so thought the audience at the time). To be fair, Boba Fett was a minor character in the trilogy, so George Lucas and company did not exactly have time to give him a proper character arc. Audiences just thought he was a bounty hunter in an awesome costume whose main contribution to the trilogy was helping capture the merry band of rebels (Luke and company), as well as freezing Han Solo in carbonite. He also had a really gruesome on-screen ‘death’ inReturn of the Jedi.
For decades, Star Wars fans have debated if Boba Fett survived the Sarlacc Pit. They finally had their theories redeemed or shattered a whopping 37 years later. To top it off, Boba Fett entersThe Mandalorianmaskless and clubbing stormtroopers in what was arguably the most brutal live-action scene in any Star Wars movie or show.
So Boba Fett nearly dies while in the employ of the Intergalactic Empire, and then the next time he shows up, he’s killing Imperial troops. This also takes place decades after the events ofReturn of the Jedi. What could have possibly happenedbetween these two book-endsin Boba Fett’s story?
The upcoming Disney+ show will undoubtedly have a lot of explaining to do. How did Boba Fett become the man he was and is? Why does he wear Mandalorian armor, yet not belong to Mando’s sect, or seemingly any sect? How did Boba Fett survive the Sarlacc Pit? Why is the show titledThe Book of Boba Fett?
One thing is for sure:The Book of Boba Fettis likely to give fansaction unlike any that fans have seenin any other Star Wars medium. In the original trilogy, the bounty hunter does his hunting with a hand-held blaster and is famously equipped with a jetpack. InThe Mandalorian, he is introduced to audiences with minimal armor and a wicked top-heavy club. WhereasThe Mandalorianoften relied on Mando’s advanced gadgetry to get him out of trouble, what audiences have seen of Boba Fett show he might be something more of a physical tank, more Hulk and less Iron Man.
Marvel, which publishes Star Wars comics, currently has an ongoing series calledStar Wars: Bounty Hunters. PerhapsThe Book of Boba Fettwilldraw from the larger community of bounty huntersin Star Wars lore. One thing is certain: it has been nearly a year sinceThe Mandalorian’ssecond season released on Disney+. Star Wars fans are chomping at the bit for the next live-action Star Wars show.
