With rumors about a Boba Fett spin-off film heating up, inevitably the suggestion is being made by some to have the film set after Return of the Jedi and feature Boba making his escape from the Sarlacc pit. This is not a new idea by any stretch. Ever since Jedi, fans have speculated about whether Boba could escape from the pit. The Expanded Universe went that direction having Boba escape from the Sarlacc and continue bounty hunting for (at least) another 30 years. Even George Lucas considered adding a scene of Boba crawling out of the Sarlacc pit in a subsequent release of Jedi.
While there certainly is a precedent for Boba escaping, ultimately it would be a mistake to pull him out and go on adventures post Return of the Jedi. Keeping Boba in the pit limits the stories that can be told with him and that will ultimately preserve some of what we first found so intriguing about him, the mystery.
There is no denying that Boba is one of the most popular characters in the saga. Because of the fascination with Boba and his Mandalorian armor, the Mandalorians have become on of the largest sub-factions of Star Wars fandom. There are countless books and comics about them, an entire costuming club dedicating to them (The Mando Mercs), and even their own language (Mando'a) and fandom name (Fandalorians). All this based around a bounty hunter that had barely twenty minutes of screen time in the Original trilogy. So why then is it best to keep Boba dead?
The answer, of course, is the risk of over saturation. Boba has appeared in practically every Star Wars medium out there, he's in the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy, The Clone Wars, books, comics, video, games, and then there's the Mando culture (listed above) that has spun-off from this. At what point do audiences become sick of Boba Fett?
Lets look to another franchise for a comparable, the X-Men and Wolverine. Hugh Jackman's portrayal of the mutant super hero Wolverine was a fan favorite in the early X-Men films but as the franchise has gone on there seems a feeling that audiences have seen enough of the character. Between the first X-Men trilogy, two solo spin off films, a one liner cameo in X-Men: First Class, and a key role in the upcoming Days of Future Past, it's not hard to understand why the once mysterious character has become stale.
That could happen to Boba. If Boba is allowed to escape the Sarlacc then it's open season for the creators to do whatever they want with him, and to answer any questions they want. With his origins known from the prequels, there are only so many mysteries about Boba left (and please don't suggest the Boba from the prequels be killed off and replaced by some unknown). By limiting the time in which stories about Boba can be told, you limit the number of stories which can be told. This will place limitations on what the creators can do, so that Boba doesn't come face-to-face with his long lost granddaughter (a la the Legacy of the Force novels).
the trigger? Fans don't want Boba to die a failure, hence the desire for him to survive the Sarlacc, so how do you give him a meaningful death that is in line with his character? It is hard to imagine a death for Boba that will live up to the the legend and mythology that has been created around him.
As popular as Boba is, it's time for fans to come to terms with the fact that he's dead. That's not to say the debate about whether or not Boba could survive the Sarlacc should not go on. Fandom is based around discussion and that's one that will (and should) go on forever, but the risks of bringing him out of the Sarlacc far outweigh the rewards. There's always possibility for more Boba Fett stories, but for now let's keep those set in the Dark Times and Rebellion eras.
So what do you think? Do you agree Boba Fett should stay in the Sarlacc, or would you rather he survives? Let us know in the comments, tweet us @TheSWU, or join the discussion in Club SWU on Facebook!
This article is an opinion piece and represents the views of the writer, and not the entire Star Wars Underworld organization
Survive and die in old age somewhere in 40 years ABY in battle and the glory ;)
ReplyDeleteHe should live and get out of the pit. The way he fell in was do to malfunction. Even if he dies soon after and passes his armor onto someone else it is better then dying in the beast.
ReplyDeleteBoba Fett should die in a violent way just as he lived hes life. The story behind him wearing wookie fur and alot could be cool. But is it cool enough for a full blown movie?
ReplyDeleteI remember having to order Boba off the back of figures cards. Proof of purchase. He was just badass to me, The less is more thing really worked with him. And choosing James earl Jones voice mita hurt that russian fellas feelings but it was what made the main character, my favorite character of all time Darth Vader.
ReplyDeleteI was overweight when i was a kid, i wore my bobba fett shirt so much i became to be known as Boba Fatt, Nice memory
ReplyDeleteif they were gonna bring him back they shouldnt have let the Scaller BURP!
ReplyDeleteBUUUUUUUUUUUURP
ReplyDeleteObi Wan should be the spinoff in my opinion
ReplyDeletethis should be something that changes everything like the first Star Wars, if not then its just bs they could make a cartoon just as well.
ReplyDeletethe Stormtroopers all beeing clones of Jango Fett, and Boba beeing hes cloned son was genius. He was the prototype for the Emperial Army. how coukd he not be cool?now ima shut up.
ReplyDeleteima nerd but if ur reading this u r 2
ReplyDeleteHe escaped the damn pit - that story was written YEARS ago. He's gone on to have a huge impact across the EU, for a minor character his popularity has endured nigh on as much as any major character
ReplyDeleteLet him escape but like in the original trilogy let him have a minor part to play to keep the mystery alive about him.
ReplyDeleteEVERYONE! BOBA FETT DID NOT DIE IN ROTJ!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell because he escaped. BUT THE POINT I want to make pretty clear is;
The Sarlacc's body is design to keep prey alive for the full digest process LONG PASS your natural lifespan; if Boba Fett didn't escape, he'd still be alive for 1,000 years . . . the very definition of a Living Hell . . .
Very good point. 1000 years is enough time to escape the Sarlacc pit.
DeleteBoba already escaped from the Sarlacc pit, that is a known amongst all Star Wars fans. There is nothing you can say or do about it. It was already done. The author of this piece is taking advantage of the younger fans who may not know or the older fans who didnt keep up with Star Wars since the movies.
ReplyDeleteHow he should die? Han Solo.
Fett needs to survive because when Darth Caedus comes along, who taught Jaina how to fight dirty and take out her brother? Fett did. If he died, then what badass Mandalorian ninja could teach her to destroy Caedus?!
ReplyDeleteHe would die protecting Mandalore as Manda'lor. Also, there's no point trying to argue about whether or not he SHOULD escape the Sarlaac, as it's been well established that he has. A better argument would be whether or not to include him in the new movies.
ReplyDeleteWe already know that Dengar saves Fett so why he should suddenly die in the pit?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter if Boba Fett gets over saturated in the films, They will keep on making them because he makes Disney money. Money is always the answer. Won't matter if the movies are good or not. In the end its about the money.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were going to make a case for keeping him in the Sarlacc. I guess I must have missed the case you made. Using Wolverine as an example was a bad idea. I can't wait for more Wolverine. I don't think many people are tired of Wolverine, or Boba Fett.
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ReplyDeleteGreat opinion article Dominic. My thoughts are this if a Boba Fett Spin off Film is done right I would go see it. Will see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteDominic makes some valid points.
ReplyDeleteWow ok I just read my previous post and where this this line come from "Oh I am madly in love with Jar Jar Binks... dont tell anyone but I have an engagement ring in my dresser." That was not in my comment when I hit publish. Good thing I kept my original on a word doc before submitting and see that this line of text replace one word I typed in there. Hint it's a word that start's with S, it's four letters, and is a synonym for poop. I find it hilarious how I guess you guys programmed it so that any words you disprove of are replaced with this. So FYI to all out there, if you say naughty words you are essentially admitting your loving devotion to Jar Jar. I got a really good laugh out of this guy. Great job. I'm gonna fix that now though. LOL
ReplyDeleteHe should definitely survive the Sarlacc and a way to kill him off is fighting honorably in battle (which I've already seen a few people say so I totally agree with them). This is also just a thought I had, in that battle he could be a bad guy and fight someone good and be defeated or take on like a whole army and beat them all to only have another wave come and eventually he is defeated (while writing this I was imagining the scene from the Clone Wars where Jedi Master Ima-Gun Di and Captain Keeli died fighting waves of battle droids). OR I suggest this...did everyone like the way Darth Vader kicked the bucket? I think it may work out well if a little bit of redemption (or something like redemption) is thrown into the mix of his death which could really help fans feel both remorse but also acceptance of his death. By this I mean go back to the fighting wave after wave of soldiers BUT before that happened somewhere in the story our "good guys" and Boba have a common goal (because why would he help out if it didn't benefit him in some way? He's a badass bounty hunter and the image of individualism. Or maybe there is something more to it. Leave that up to the imagination). I mean in the EU it's already been shown that he eventually gives up his feud with Solo and trains his daughter and helps out a bit in the Yuuzhan Vong war (check out the Wookieepedia page, there's plenty more (also this is probably one of the only times I said that and the people I said it to know of the website already and probably don't even have to go to it to think of other examples and damn does it feel good)). So it ends up getting to a point where maybe he "sacrifices" himself because he's like "Oh there is like a whole army coming this way and you guys want to run? Ya you guys go ahead and do that, I'm going to stay here and show you how ass kicking is done" but maybe not as douchey but maybe just a hint of it so maybe he just says "go." So he does decimate so many of them but eventually it's just too much he gets seriously injured and maybe he does still defeat them all or then gets assistance. But then he's dying there like "ya you see that I totally took out all those guys. Oh this, ya it's nothing but a scratch. Na ya I'm probably gonna die. Why the hell did I help you guys out. Oh ya because of that thing (whatever the reason that is never really said out loud)" That's stuff just going through his head and the guys are like "why did you go and do that?" and he's like "because I'm Boba Fett and I'm a badass" (not said out loud of course cause that's just not his style). So he dies but he dies as the anti-hero everyone wishes (or honestly knows) he is rather than a total bad guy. Whew I wrote a lot more there that I thought I would but this is a character I love and these are just jumping off points. I'm also ok with him dying of old age but just don't let him go out the way he did in Return of the Jedi because that death would just not give him any justice. They knew it back then and I (and I believe many others) believe that now.
ReplyDeleteBoba Fett should escape the Sarlacc. He deserves a better death than something so foolish. But instead of using his escape to reveal too much about him the plot should be used to reveal things to the galaxy about the Sarlacc monster. Boba can always die with his boots on. Or maybe he rides off into the sunset like a cowboy who lives to the end. I think Boba Fett should remain a Byronic hero. One thing will infuriate me is if Boba gets a psychoanalysis and starts blaming everything on his troubled past. I do not want him getting a freaking pity party. I want to watch him destroy things. If Darth Vader was really intellectually keen we have learned that Boba has a tendency to disintegrate. I want to see some sensational violence and destruction. He should be using rifles, grenades and missiles galore. Don't hesitate to get creative with the ways Boba Fett can be violent. Just be sure that he retains his calm, cool, collected, almost sociopathic apathy regarding the damage he does.
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