Most Fans Forgot Boba Fett Would Be Star Wars’ First Lead of Color & That’s a Problem
Since he first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, the bounty hunter Boba Fett has been a popular character in the Star Wars universe, despite his limited screen time. So, it’s not a surprise that, despite the fact that we aren’t getting a standalone Lando film this next go-round, Fett seems like the next natural choice.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, James Mangold is set to write and direct. Mangold was the director of Logan, the last good X-Men movie we’re probably gonna get in this weird timeline. This is also not the first time a Boba Fett movie has been suggested. Back in 2013, Disney and Lucasfilm announced one was in development with Josh Trank (Chronicle, Fantastic 4) as director, to follow Rogue One, but once Trank left the project, the new adventures of old Boba Fett were put on the back burner.
I’ve seen mixed reactions on the internet, with many people complaining that Boba Fett is hardly a character and that they should give this stand-alone treatment to a character like Princess Leia or Padmé Amidala—a sentiment I agreed with until I was reminded by author and media critic Jeanne (@fangirlJeanne) on Twitter that Boba and his father, Jango Fett, are both men of color.
Dear white women fans,
Boba Fett is a man of color. He is played by a Māori actor. Stop acting like he is only important to white boy geeks.
Sincerely,
A super annoyed Pasifika fangirl who wants a Boba Fett movie featuring his granddaughter, Mirta Gev. pic.twitter.com/xO3U78ZbBU
— 🌊Fangirl Jeanne🌺 Free ass motherfucker! (@fangirlJeanne) May 24, 2018
Boba Fett being a man of color is something I don’t see talked about often among the majority of Star Wars fans, at least partly because that reveal doesn’t happen until Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. In that film, we are introduced to Jango Fett, played by Temuera Morrison, who is a Māori actor. It establishes that Jango is the genetic template for the Grand Army of the Republic, who is decapitated in front of his “son” Boba Fett by Jedi Master Mace “Mother Fuckin'” Windu.
In the original films, we never see Boba out of his mask, so because of our society, he was defaulted to whiteness. Also, before later edits, he was voiced by white actor Jason Wingreen. However, since the prequels are canon, it’s important that, when we talk about Boba and Jango, we recognize them as men of color.
A stand-alone Boba Fett movie would be the first time we have a non-white character leading a Star Wars movie rather than being a supporting character who can get sidelined in sequels because of basic shipping agenda—I’m not bitter or anything.
We have room in this universe for a Boba Fett movie and a Princess Leia movie. While we’re all for calling on Disney to get going already on a Leia movie, a Padmé movie, an Ahsoka Tano movie, and everyone else who deserves one, there’s no reason to pit women against POC for representation when we can have both. Don’t be a Susan B. Anthony, be an Ida B. Wells.
(via The Hollywood Reporter, images: Lucasfilm/Disney)
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