Everything you need to know before 'The Book of Boba Fett'

[NelsonG]

Boba Fett is kind of a weird dude.

No disrespect to the clone and bounty hunter from the Star Wars universe, but when Disney announced The Book of Boba Fett at the end of The Mandalorian Season 2, it was not the most obvious or alluring choice of spinoff. Star Wars prequel actor Temuera Morrison will reprise the role.

Boba Fett first appeared in 1980's The Empire Strikes Back as a foreboding and faceless bounty hunter with super cool armor. He lurks throughout the masterful sequel film and plays an integral role in the final sequence when Darth Vader decides to freeze Han Solo in carbonite. ("What if he doesn't survive? He's worth a lot to me.") In the following film, Fett is unceremoniously eaten by a sarlacc. A cadre of fans maintained he survived, but we didn't see it on film until The Mandalorian Season 2.

COOLEST. ARMOR. Credit: Disney / Lucasfilm

Boba Fett was "born" during the Star Wars prequel Republic Era, as a clone of Jango Fett. He was entrusted to the Mandalorian bounty hunter as payment after the senior Fett's DNA became the template for the Clone Wars' eponymous army. In the Clone Wars animated series, we witness Boba seeking vengeance for his father's death in the movie, Attack of the Clones. He eventually becomes a fearsome bounty hunter with the signature suit, starship, and reputation that fans know so well. He's well-acquainted with the galaxy's underworld and its characters.

When we caught up with him in The Mandalorian, he was on the hunt for his armor, a beautiful reunion eventually facilitated by our own Din Djarin. Boba met Fennec Shand off-screen during the events of The Mandalorian Season 1; as we learn in Season 2, Boba saved her life after she was left for dead in the desert. The two of them helped Din rescue Grogu in the Season 2 finale, but notably did not cross paths with Luke Skywalker — probably for the best, because Boba and Luke have a fraught history.

From what we've seen so far, The Book of Boba Fett takes place on the familiar sands of Tatooine, with Boba sitting on Jabba the Hutt's throne and Fennec at his side. The juxtaposition of Boba and Jabba as rulers is suggested to be central to this series. "Jabba ruled with fear," Boba says in the trailer. "I intend to rule with respect."

The trailer is serving up some serious Peaky Blinders meets Succession in space vibes, and nothing about that phrase doesn't rule.

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The story is being kept under wraps like all things Star Wars, but it seems fair to expect an adventure-of-the-week structure much like The Mandalorian's. Boba and Fennec know as many intergalactic lowlifes as Din, and probably more; now that they have power, people are going to pop by to call in favors, build alliances, and seek revenge.

Boba didn't think twice about killing Bib Fortuna, Jabba's former majordomo, for the throne, but we also saw him show some real empathy in helping Din and Grogu, which means that this is a man of nuance. It's entirely likely Din himself might return to somehow set up The Mandalorian Season 3 and how the heck that show will go on without Grogu.

One thing we know we'll get for sure, though: Cool armor.

The Book of Boba Fett premieres Dec. 29 on Disney+.

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