![]() ![]() The fact is despite first appearing as a handsome and sophisticated leader, the first black representation in Star Wars turned out to be a rival criminal to our hero and one who was genuinely not to be trusted… Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) and his Cloud City entourage in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Lando is the most developed but before the role was revived by Donald Glover for the Han Solo spin-off, Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), Lando was another Han Solo, but one who actually did betray the main characters, almost killing them all before gaining some kind of redemption in Return of the Jedi. They either amount to stereotypical representations or are without any significant effect on the plot other than driving it further. By 2005, just two black men of consequence, Lando Calrissian and Mace Windu, existed in the whole universe according to Star Wars. You don’t have to look further than the actual characters that were cast as black actors in the universe to see some of these hidden stereotypes at work. This roughly translates to typical American stereotypes in stories the black man as the cool and suave criminal, the East Asian as the “mentor” and Samurai-type master. When he began casting the Original Trilogy, Lucas considered a black man for Han Solo and an East Asian for Obi-Wan Kenobi. So why, when it came to re-casting and representation, did Lucas choose a Polynesian actor? Was it simply because he envisioned a hardened warrior being of tribal descent and dark skin? Probably, Lucas had a way of injecting a politically-charged character into Star Wars, only to suck them dry as the story develops. Nevertheless, Boba Fett was originally a white man in the original films, portrayed by actor Jeremy Bulloch. ![]() Making Morrison’s face, voice, and general persona a handy currency in the Star Wars cinematic universe. Portraying Jango Fett in the prequels, Boba Fett in The Mandalorian, and every single clone in the Republic Army, which all share all his distinctive features. He has gone on to become the face behind the iconic warrior’s armor. While Fett endured in fan fiction, comics, animations, and more extended Star Wars material, it would not be until the new millennium in George Lucas’ divisive and adventurous Prequel Trilogy he would be unmasked as Māori actor Temuera Morrison (in the form of Boba’s clone father Jango Fett, of course). Boba Fett demonstrates his killer instincts as minions run for cover in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983). Though Fett would presumably see his fate sealed in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) to the heavy disappointment of fans at the time, his mythos remained and so did the possibility of what his character could be capable of. The silent enigma behind the scrappy armor sparked the imaginations of Star Wars fans immediately. ![]() Not without its myths, dark undertones, and problem areas of course… Boba Fett first appeared in the Original Trilogy, with little dialogue or “movement”, or agenda for that matter. Proceed with caution.Īs Disney premieres The Book of Boba Fett, another addition to the ever-growing catalog of the expansive and booming Star Wars universe within its tenure, the stage is set for a reminiscence and study on the evolution of this popular character Boba Fett, and how this character's history mirrors that of the hyper-popular franchise we know today. Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Mandalorian episodes ‘Chapter 9: The Marshal’ (S2, Ep1) and ‘Chapter 14: The Tragedy’ (S2, Ep6).
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