Following the Clues to a Possible Boba Fett Stand-Alone Movie. (Part 1 of 3)

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JW Rinzler, recently opened a can of worms when he revealed in a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” that he spoke with George Lucas and George said Boba Fett survived the Sarlacc Pit in Episode VI. This news has seemingly ended a very long debate over Fett’s ultimate fate. Now, it appears that Boba Fett is fair game for a return in Star Wars: Episode VII. BUT will he??? We’ll try to answer that question after the jump.

 

 

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PART I: FAN-FAVORITE-FETT

 

In 1978, in order to keep the Star Wars momentum churning and to build excitement for the new movie due in 1980, George Lucas green-lit the infamous Star Wars: Holiday Special. He’s regretted and disavowed it ever since. However, the not-so-special Special is important in the annals of Star Wars history as it was the first appearance of one Boba Fett, intergalactic bounty hunter.

 

 

Boba Fett was written as one of several fierce bounty hunters to appear in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back:

The group standing before Vader is a bizarre array of galactic fortune hunters: there is BOSSK, a slimy, tentacled monster with two huge, bloodshot eyes in a soft baggy face; TUCKUSS (aka ZUCKUSS) and DENGAR, two battle-scarred, mangy human types; IG-88, a battered, tarnished chrome war droid; and BOBA FETT, a man in a weapon-covered armored space suit.

 

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Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan, and George Lucas all had a hand in writing the script and imagining Boba Fett, but the man who eventually brought the bounty hunter from imagination to the real world was none other than Joe Johnston, who is also a director as well, heading such films as The Rocketeer and Captain America, ironically both for Disney. Johnston worked with concept artist Ralph McQuarrie to design Boba Fett’s iconic look, but Johnston executed the practical armor according to the Fettpedia:

“Johnston is Boba Fett’s original conceptual designer. He has also been referred to as the ‘Father’ of Boba Fett. Joe designed the colors and helmet for Boba. John Mollo had designed the original suit as the super trooper army of millions, but the production couldn’t afford it for ‘Empire Strikes Back.’ Therefore, Joe made Boba a singular character with the paint job he did on him, including the damaged suit and helmet.”

Once The Empire Strikes Back roared into theaters in 1980 a new star was born! Boba Fett, with approximately five minutes of screen time and the short, but sweet line, “He’s no good to me dead!” instantly became a fan-favorite; a phenomenon within a phenomenon! Some might argue that it’s rather ridiculous that one minor, supporting character garner so much fanboy & fangirl love, but it’s not really that shocking. First and foremost, Boba Fett looks freaking cool!!! From that radical looking helmet, to the pieces of armor, to the varied array of battle scars, enigmatic markings, and war trophies, every single detail screams a story. Which leads to the second reason why he’s loved so much — the mystery. We learn so little about him, in fact, we never saw his face in the Original Trilogy, fans were given plenty of liberty to imagine just what kind of guy this Boba Fett was. I mean, after all, he was able to track down and capture Han Solo when the evil Empire couldn’t. Boba Fett was a man of action and results. All this and I haven’t even mentioned the fact that he flies an iron — upright — the second coolest ship in the galaxy in Slave I.

 

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Outside of the in-universe coolness that makes-up Fett, there arose another reason why Boba rose to such lofty prominence — the action figure. Vintage Kenner action figures were a staple of every Star Wars-loving-boy during the 1980’s. In fact, Boba Fett was one of the hottest sellers during the OT era. In part this mania was perhaps fueled by a legend or myth, depending on one’s point of view. See, legend has it that Boba Fett’s original action figure came with a firing rocket. YES, an actual firing rocket! The myth goes like this — Fett originally came with a firing rocket and some kid shot his eye out, thus Kenner had to recall all of the action figures so the original ones became ultra rare and valuable. At least, this is how I originally heard it. In other tellings of the story, the mythic child in question choked-on said rocket. None of this is a laughing matter, except that it didn’t happen. Kenner did, apparently, make some prototype figures with a firing rocket, but they never went to market for the general public. Now, some of these appear from time to time on eBay and sell for thousands of dollars, but of course, they are not all legit. It is unknown how many actually survived.

“3. Rocket Firing Boba Fett, 1980
Star Wars collectors have been debating this figure’s very existence for decades. The story goes that in 1980, Kenner released the first wave of Empire Strikes Back action figures, which included the original Boba Fett figure that came with a missile that fired from his back. Later, Kenner worried about the safety of the tiny projectile and re-released the figure with the missile permanently glued into the figure’s backpack. Kenner officially denies that they ever released a missile-firing version of the figure, but a few have surfaced in auctions and in the collectible market, and many collectors have paid hefty sums for one.”
Average Market Value: $1,000 – $2,000

Rumors began to swirl about the mysterious Boba Fett. His real name was “Jaster Mereel.” He was from Mandalore and wore the armor of the Mandalorian super-commando. All of these things have been addressed in some form or another throughout the now defunct Expanded Universe, the so-called “Legends.” Needless to say, there was a lot of confusion surrounding this guy.

 

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With the great success of Boba Fett in TESB, in just five minutes of screen time no less, there was no doubt George Lucas would have to include Fett in the trilogy’s Episode VI finale. Han and Boba needed to square-off once again in order to really see who’s the baddest scoundrel in the galaxy. CONTRO-VERSY ensued as Han Solo seemingly defeated the menacing Boba Fett by accidentally knocking him into the Great Pit of Carkoon to be ingested for a 1,000 years by the mighty Sarlacc. The controversy is duly justified and has even become fodder for the fan-produced, fan-favorite, cult classic Robot Chicken:

 

 

How could Boba Fett NOT escape the Sarlacc Pit when he had a rocket pack?! This is the crux of the argument over the years, with many die-hard Fett Fans simply not believing their favorite anti-hero went out like a little punk that way. In their minds he always survived the pit and, as we now know, their belief is true according to JW Rinzler. (More on this in Part III) Now that we have a clear view of Fett’s origins, we’ll take a look at who this mysterious, nefarious Boba Fett really is in Part II.

 

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68 thoughts on “Following the Clues to a Possible Boba Fett Stand-Alone Movie. (Part 1 of 3)

  • July 23, 2014 at 9:26 pm
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    Please!!!Joe Johnston for standalone movie!!!

    • July 23, 2014 at 9:36 pm
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      Absolutely! I really refuse to believe that Lucasfilm will make a Boba Fett movie and won’t even ask Joe to do it. This is blasphemy 🙂

  • July 23, 2014 at 10:12 pm
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    Nothing is more certain than that there will be a Boba Fett stand-alone movie.
    As for Joe Johnson – The Rocketeer is an absolute gem of a movie – I whole-heartedly recommend it to everyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of seeing it.

  • July 23, 2014 at 10:21 pm
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    NO!!!!!! Boba was killed in the battle of carkoon. Periode!!!!!

    besides he would be like 70 in episode 7 just let it be.

    a spin off is okay as long it take place before return.

    • July 23, 2014 at 10:30 pm
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      I agree that EpVII is too late in the saga to bring Fett back, but a stand alone movie taking place immediately after EpVI ends would be ideal, in my opinion. There’s no point in saying “Fett survived” if not to show him crawling out of the sarlacc, covered in mucus and bile.

      • July 23, 2014 at 11:27 pm
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        Ew.

  • July 23, 2014 at 10:29 pm
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    As much as I am looking forward to Episode 7, I have zero interest in a Boba Fett movie.

    • July 23, 2014 at 10:30 pm
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      Congrats, you’re probably the only one.

      • July 23, 2014 at 11:00 pm
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        Nope there is at least 2 of us now. I would prefer to see him featured as a minor character throughout the spinoff movies. You know, leave some of the mystery that we all fell in love with him for. Or do a predator style movie where he is hunting a group of people so he’s not center stage the whole time

          • July 24, 2014 at 12:08 am
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            Count me in as #4.

            To me, Fett’s still has about 965 yrs. left to go, before the Sarlacc’s done digesting him. Let the dead rest in peace and move on.

          • July 24, 2014 at 12:12 am
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            No. 5 here. While I have no problem with Boba Fett escaping the Sarlacc, I fall on this side simply because I want Boba Fett to maintain an air of mystery. Already disappointed to have the “backstory” from the PT for him.

          • July 24, 2014 at 11:35 am
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            A Boba Fett movie does not have to have the typical back story, it could be a western style Rio bravo or Sergio Leoni style film, where he is heavily in the film but does not have to be a show case to a character study, just simply an action adventure where he is more invoved with the protagonists in a cat and mouse sinerio. It could even be a hiest flick. Good writers and film makers can pull off the unthinkable. Look at what Jon Favreau did for Iron Man.

          • July 24, 2014 at 3:43 pm
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            Make that 6. Can we say “overrated”?

          • July 24, 2014 at 4:31 pm
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            Yes, once Fett fell into the Sarlac he was done to me. If he survived, it needed to be shown on the screen in ROTJ. To me, it’s very cheesy to just say “He survived”. It’s kinda like horror movie bad guy returns.

            Don’t get me wrong, Boba Fett is cool. I am not sure the character can support a whole movie (even if it is pre-ROTJ). The only way to delve into his character would be to take the helmet off and if you do that, the mystique is gone. Fett’s mysterious mystique is the entire reason why he’s so loved.

        • July 24, 2014 at 12:14 am
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          Actually you have a point. Its kind of the reason I hate the PT. When everything getts explained, the mysteri loose its power. Something is best left to millions of peoples imaginations.
          The way BobaFett died is yet an example of George Lucas lack of abillity to sence his fans. He was never kind of tuned into people’s expectations.

          • July 24, 2014 at 11:54 am
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            Everyones expectations are different, I figured Anakin and Obi Wan were going to be portrayed like Luke And Biggs when they met up both in there twenties, one twenty and the other almost 30. Yet everyone you ask will say it all so differently. I agree leaving some things unexplained is a good thing but the other half always wants to know when will we see the Mandalorian war, then they got the Clone wars version, with black pointed end lightsabers, I thought that and Previzula with all the rest sucked, but there are others that just loved it. Some like Jar Jar some don’t.
            Nothing will ever be just right, with the more projects they do, another bubble gets popped… Midichlorians and all.

          • July 24, 2014 at 8:18 pm
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            No one likes Jar Jar.

          • July 26, 2014 at 11:40 am
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            Santa is that you again?
            Only Santa and little trolls in the woods know everything. But it couldn’t be Santa.
            Your just mad cause Jar Jar never got an edition from the Sideshow or Hot toys lines of Statues. Just think how many would have sold if trolls like you didn’t cry Jar Jar Bink’s.

      • July 24, 2014 at 12:52 am
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        Nope he is not. I do not care for him. He is dead. And we all know who he is and how he looks like, from PT movies.

        • July 24, 2014 at 8:21 pm
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          What Prequel Trilogies?

      • July 24, 2014 at 8:14 pm
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        Wrong! I am terrified of how stupid a stand alone Boba Fett movie could be. The Attack of the Clones did enough pissing on the mystery and mystique that makes Fett so cool.

  • July 23, 2014 at 10:29 pm
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    He will probably finally get to kill Solo in Episiode 7. now THAT would be awesome!

    • July 24, 2014 at 12:11 am
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      2 old men with an ages old grudge fighting each other to death…

      Thanks for the suggestion, but Obi-Wan vs. Vader in the Death Star already covered that.

  • July 23, 2014 at 10:47 pm
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    I’m afraid I’m in the camp that always wondered what the big deal about Boba Fett was. Yeah, he followed the Falcon and then transported an already frozen Han to Jabba but is that really reason for an obsessive cult to form around the guy?

    Still, I have no problem with the character and his origin in Attack of the Clones makes him a bit more interesting. I’m fine with a stand-alone film that takes place before Jedi or with one that allows him to escape the Sarlaac. I just hope that Kasdan doesn’t get to do his version where somebody kills the original Boba and becomes the new one. I mean, then what would be the point of the whole thing?

    • July 23, 2014 at 11:10 pm
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      You know I respectfully disagree with all your points there except I agree he did nothing remarkable in the OT. I think the rumored Kasdan script is genius. Kill off that pussy little kid Boba and give us a threatening mystery.

      • July 23, 2014 at 11:18 pm
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        > Calling young Boba a pussy.

        Someone clearly didn’t watch The Clone Wars…

        • July 23, 2014 at 11:30 pm
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          It’s unfortunate that TCW has to make up for the disappointing PT.

          • July 24, 2014 at 12:43 am
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            He was still a great pilot in AOTC.

      • July 24, 2014 at 1:24 am
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        So you really don’t like Boba Fett at all then because the kid IS him.

        Forget that laughable rumour. Besides that as Lucas said at the Disney sale. He did treatments for the ST and other movies as well so any Fett movie is probably based on his ideas.

        The real question I would like to know is why bother with a nothing character like Fett when there are far more interesting characters to make movies for?

        • July 24, 2014 at 6:04 am
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          4 Love Of Money……..

          There are no money in dead boba toys

          • July 26, 2014 at 11:51 am
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            Dude you got something there. Could you imagine the run of action figures!
            And I don’t mean Zombie editions. I’m talking Dead Action figures! Yeah oxymoron, I know!
            I can see it now free with Proof of purchase: dead Han Solo with limp grip.
            Dead liea figure in sarcophagus! Luke and dead Rebel fighters with detachable limbs. It could be called the Unaction figure!!! We could make millions….KENNER COMEBACK!!!!

        • July 24, 2014 at 6:32 am
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          Fett is only a “nothing” character because they have done nothing with him yet. He’s a blank slate with cool armor. The sky’s the limit as to what personality you can fill that suit with. But to say he’s a “nothing character” would mean you already know a lot more then what has been officially released to make such a blanket statement.

    • July 24, 2014 at 12:57 am
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      I agree.

      I like his backstory in prequel trilogy, he is dead in OT. Leave it on that.

      I do not want his spin-off movies.

      • July 26, 2014 at 10:17 pm
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        Best said, if you asked at Star Wars celebrations if a Fett film is a good idea, the crowd would go wild.
        If you asked for objections, you would have a bunch of silent (scared) people.
        A Boba Fett action film would be great.
        And to the folks that think there are far better characters to center a story around: Snaggletooth’s Big Date! There’s one for ya to eat popcorn in front of.

    • July 24, 2014 at 12:12 pm
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      I say keep Boba going as a long running gag in star wars. Mabey not every episode, but now and again the mystery man shows up, is a threat and at some point dies only to show up again. If done wisely and sparingly it could work. Aeon Flux died every episode, except it was never explained, that’s Aeon not Star Wars I know but Fett could be that reoccurring character time and time again that shows up in the vast universe of star wars in the territory of familiarity.

    • July 24, 2014 at 8:24 pm
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      Among many reasons why Boba is awesome is that he was never intimidated by Vader. I really think that this is the main reason people think he is such a badass. as for the prequels making him more interesting…..I just don’t…’shakes head’

  • July 23, 2014 at 10:57 pm
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    Who the hell is TUCKUSS? Is that Zuckuss’s evil twin brother?

    • July 23, 2014 at 11:01 pm
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      4lom

    • July 23, 2014 at 11:16 pm
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      That was the character’s working name, I think.

      • July 24, 2014 at 6:09 am
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        Zukuss and 4lom are bough bounty hunters and there are kenner figures or them. But kenner switch there names

  • July 23, 2014 at 10:58 pm
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    With all the old characters coming back I always get this feeling that they let their children fight the war, they could not continue…like blood feud…

  • July 23, 2014 at 11:02 pm
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    Who is Tuckuss. The bounty hunter’s name WAS ZUCKUSS .A little proofreading would be approiate

    • July 23, 2014 at 11:17 pm
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      That was how it showed up in the initial script.

      • July 23, 2014 at 11:23 pm
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        Thanks for pointing that out Pomojema. I didn’t know that. 🙂

  • July 23, 2014 at 11:31 pm
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    The one line that always gets me is “Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold” I don’t know what it is about that line but it makes me shiver. Maybe its still the shock of what happened to Han or how creepy it was delivered, but that is my favorite line he has.

    Just one of a million things that should not have been changed for the DVD or Blu-rays release. Temuera Morrison voice is just fine but is it no where as creepy or menacing as Jason Wingreen.

    • July 23, 2014 at 11:47 pm
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      Unfortunately, it would have made zero sense to not to change the voice.

      • July 23, 2014 at 11:59 pm
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        True and that change doesn’t bother me as mush as say “Jedi Rocks” or “Han shooting first” its just ashamed that it had to be changed to fit the PT and not the other way around.

        Don’t get me wrong Temuera Morrison is actually not all that bad as Jango Fett at least to me, and he tries his best to match the menacing of the original voice its just not as good.

        Which brings up a good question will Temuera Morrison play Boba Fett in the stand alone film or just voice it? I’d like to think just voice it for continuity, but again his voice is well established as an element of the PT and Disney and Co may try to distance themselves from anything PT related. Just a thought.

        • July 24, 2014 at 12:38 am
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          Disney isn’t going to avoid things like that from the PT, if they avoid anything at all. Remember, it’s the 30 and older fans that largely hate the PT. Let’s be honest, Disney’s main target isn’t 50 year old men.

      • July 24, 2014 at 12:35 am
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        Wrong. Lucas should have dubbed over Morrison to sound more like Wingreen. And it still could be done 😉

  • July 23, 2014 at 11:52 pm
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    I love Robot Chicken… but had never seen this clip before. Downright hilarious!

  • July 23, 2014 at 11:58 pm
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    If they do make a Fett movie I predict it will destroy what is left of the character. He was always cool BECAUSE of the mystery surrounding him(and a cool costume). Just having his backstory in place through the prequels and clone wars cartoon has already damaged the character IMO. Now if Disney makes a standalone film, he will have to become some kind of antihero that the audience can relate to/empathise with, which I think will further taint the character. He is best as a mysterious villain that we never get to know more about. In fact, I can think of a lot of cool things in the original movies that were cool for that reason: mystery. Ever since the prequels(which I enjoy), there has been a push to link everything together and provide backstories for everything.

    • July 24, 2014 at 12:19 am
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      Any stand alone film runs the risk of damaging or ruining a character or their back story whether its Boba Fett, Yoda, or Han Solo. As long as its done right. But must of the time it isn’t. Its not that i’m afraid of ruining the back story i’m afraid the character himself will be ruined.

      Boba Fett is a no nonsense shot first kind a guy. Making him an anti-hero could work if the circumstances permit it. The first thing to pop into my mind is the movie “The Transporter” Boba is a man that has only three rules, but certain circumstances force him to became more than just a bounty hunter. Might work if the story and direction keep it real.

  • July 24, 2014 at 12:17 am
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    I agree, the mystique has been taken away from Boba Fett. I wanted him to be seen as a villain, not a protagonist. I wasn’t fussed on the recent Iron Man films, so I don’t want it to be like that. A family on the run from him would be better, in my opinion. ‘Son of Solo’, or something..

  • July 24, 2014 at 1:00 am
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    Nice article, Echo! Gotta admit, I always dug Boba Fett from the very beginning, for exactly the reasons you mention. Yeah, he looked cool, but there was so much detail on that costume that suggested that this guy had been plying his trade around the galaxy for a LONG time. The mystery surrounding all of that and the potential for all sorts of other stories connected to him and his adventures was a big part of his appeal, as you point out. (Plus yeah… that was one bitchin’ ship he flew!)

    I never liked what they did to the character in AOTC. Boba Fett as a precocious kid? When I was 12 years old and ESB came out, the LAST thing I ever thought to wonder about was “What was Boba Fett like when he was my age?” I just didn’t go see movies like Star Wars to watch other kids – I went to watch adults having the kinds of adventures that we kids always wanted to have. There was no reason to assume that Boba Fett was 30-something years old in the OT. He could easily have just been this bounty hunter who had been around seemingly forever, and who knows what his planet of origin or life span was.

    If they do a Boba Fett movie (and I’m not sold on the idea of making him the “hero” of his own movie) then I hope they leave the Episode II references to a minimum, leave the helmet on and just show us that guy we loved in ESB having some of the adventures that he bore evidence of on his armor.

  • July 24, 2014 at 1:09 am
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    Storys from Inside the Sarlacc’s Belly – Weighting off the Fett

  • July 24, 2014 at 1:29 am
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    Not sure if i want a standalone movie or not. The prequels kind of ruined the Boba Fett mystique. That being said, I’ll be at the first midnight showing in my area. And off topic, the bounty hunters in TESB were some of my favorite action figures. Why couldn’t the prequel battle droids have been IG-88 model droids? Oh well.

    • July 24, 2014 at 1:53 am
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      Twould be sweet but AFAIK Fox still has Episode IV and I’m sure Lucas has a deal in place with them that is separate from the Disney deal. But again, it would be sweet. Harmy’s De-specialized versions are all i watch currently.

  • July 24, 2014 at 2:15 am
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    I’d like to see a young Han Solo Underworld movie with Fett in his rightful place as a mystery in a supporting role.

  • July 24, 2014 at 2:29 am
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    As much as I would love a Fett movie, especially one where he’s like Clint Eastwood’s Man With No Name, I just don’t see how you can pull it off without seeing his face, and furthermore, without seeing it a lot.

    That’s why I feel with there being so much talk about a Fett and a Solo movie, I think it’s going to be the same movie, which would be pretty great (I know, I know…have to cast a young Han but so be it)

    • July 24, 2014 at 12:31 pm
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      As far as I’m concerned that mask is his face.

      The Trails and Tribulations of a
      Bounty Killer at the Gallows

      Reminiscences of the Bounty Hunter Boba Fett.

  • July 24, 2014 at 6:38 am
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    Instead of making Boba Fett the anti-hero protagonist, why not create a brand new protagonist and have Boba Fett be the main villain on the hunt for this hero in the standalone?

    Keep him cool and mysterious.

  • July 24, 2014 at 6:53 am
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    If I were writing the movie, Fett would remain a villain and create original characters to fill out the rest of the cast. More potential for disaster but willingness to face such consequences and using that fear to push your creativity beyond it’s limits was what made movies like the Empire Strike Back so great.

  • July 24, 2014 at 10:05 am
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    Thing is…maybe he’s not a villain.

    I remember a quote from the now defunct EU where he talked about how he took his bounties, and he basically said “I work for the Empire because they bring stability and pay well, you Rebels are the ones creating conflict and I won’t play both sides.”

    So he’s more than a bounty hunter, he’s a pragmatic.

    Still think it would be difficult to make him the Star with out taking his helmet off many times, thus I’d love to see him as the bad guy in a Han Solo film but maybe have him spare Han’s life when he has him dead to rights.

    It really is a shame that his “death” was so awful. I know everyone cites his cool armor and “mystique” but I think that his inglorious death is what makes people long for him even more. It really was awful.

    • July 24, 2014 at 12:21 pm
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      One must always remember Fett wore Wookie pelts as trophies. Boba is evil. No turning back for him. Lando was a redeemable character…Boba Fett is a lost cause for killing Wookies. Sure he is Pragmatic and out for the highest bidder. But he killed Wookies and that is some shit that should not be.
      If dead in the sarlacc pit may he suffer for a thousand years.

      • July 24, 2014 at 12:49 pm
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        Maybe they were evil Wookiees and they deserved being hunted

        • July 26, 2014 at 11:55 am
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          !!! Like you make any sense??!?!?

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