Dave Filoni Explains Why He Thinks Boba Fett Has Remained Such A Popular Character
It says on the back of the DVD case for Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II, that anything with Boba Fett featured in it increases it's worth by 800%. And that is definitely the case. Now more than ever. You could argue that Boba Fett has been popular since his appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, (tries not to remember the infamous Holiday Special, it didn't happen, it never happened. GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT OF MY HEAD!) but you could also say he's been seen as a bit of a joke. That embarrassing defeat he suffered in Return of the Jedi, a temporarily blind man with a pole took out the galaxy's best bounty hunter after he had only been on screen for a combined 6 minutes.
So you had two camps on the character. Either he's a cool badass or he's a joke that barely did anything. This, by the way, is excluding any Legends material. I would say that Chapter 14 of Season 2 of The Mandalorian changed a lot of minds. And will continue to do so in The Book of Boba Fett later this month. This is the Boba Fett fans have been wanting to see.
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It's weird that 6 minutes is all it took to make this masked character an icon. Leaving audiences asking: Where did he come from? Who was Boba Fett? Mystery always leaves questions. Over time some of these questions have been answered. Whilst also prompting new ones, which the Book of Boba Fett should answer. Mainly, how in the Force did he get out of the Sarlacc Pit?
I secretly want to see him climbing out, emerging out of the sand, only to start dancing to I'm Alright by Kenny Loggins. Just like from Caddyshack. One can dream.
But recently, Dave Filoni (Clone Wars, Rebels & The Mandalorian) shared his thoughts on Fett with The Hollywood Reporter. That it was Boba Fett's unique look that made him iconic. That while being a new character, the man had a history:
"I think the design of the costume, especially the helmet, is iconic. The details from the dent on the crown on his helmet, the emblems, scuff marks, cloak and braids all spoke of a greater story and adventure the character had experienced. I think it was always fun to imagine what those adventures were. Now we get to tell some of them."
- Dave Filoni to Hollywood Reporter
Well in about a week's time we'll soon be seeing these adventures. Just like Fett himself, the show itself is a mystery. The trailers so far have only shown the first half of the first episode, according to Director/Producer Robert Rodriguez. The fact we're still in the dark about six and a half episodes is brilliant and rather exciting. This is something I've liked about all the recent trailers for Star Wars. They tease, giving you a glimpse of what's to come but you have no real idea what to expect. You may have theories, but you don't know story details straight off the bat, more trailers need to do that.
Again it's funny how a character who only appeared for 6 minutes in the original trilogy gained such a following that decades later he is not only still loved, but has this legend-like status. He's like the "Man With No Name". And now here he is getting the recognition he deserves. Returns with a badass reintroduction in the Mandalorian and now has his own show. I can only imagine how fans that grew up in the early 80's must feel right now.
The Book of Boba Fett arrives on Disney+ on December 29th. Starring Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen, with John Favreau, Dave Filoni, Robert Rodriguez, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson as Executive Producers.
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Source(s): The Hollywood Reporter, Screen Rant