Star Warshas never been shy about paying homage to other classic film and TV genres. Heck, the very first film took heavy and intentional inspiration fromFlash Gordonand classic Akira Kurosawa samurai films (particularlyThe Hidden Fortress), and now it’s become one of the most humongous and instantly recognizable brands in the world. So it should come as no surprise that the franchise has retained that knack even to this day, up to and including the upcoming Disney Plus seriesThe Book of Boba Fett.
However, rather than the swashbuckling action and distinct visual flair of the othersourcesStar Warshas tended to draw from, it seems that showrunner Jon Favreau has something a little more gritty in mind this time around. Boba Fett is, after all, a full-time resident of the criminal underworld. So classicStar Warstales of a hero’s journey don’t really mesh well with the kinds of stories one would expect from the man in the Mandalorian armor.
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In a recent interview with Empire, Favreau elaborated on the setting ofThe Book of Boba Fettand how it fits into theStar Warsuniverse. “There is a power vacuum… because Jabba is gone,” he said, reiterating the time frame that sets the showjust afterStar Wars: Return of the Jedi. “Jabba was clearly a very strong and imposing leader, who people were very scared of, and who seemed to rule with an iron fist. You pull somebody like that out of the ecosystem of Tatooine – and Hutt Space in general – and you have the opportunity that’s ripe in the gangster genre.”
That’s right. This time, the inspiration comes from not heroic tales of daring deeds, but seedy gangster stories that would makeThe Godfather’s Corleone familyfeel right at home. Granted, this won’t be a story about “keeping the family together” or anything like that. Boba is bound to have his work cut out for him if he wants to rule in that world, especially since this is something very different from his normal fare. “Although Boba Fett is a very experienced bounty hunter, he’s not experienced at running a criminal syndicate or managing forces,” Favreau continued. “He’s not normally a newcomer. He’s an expert as we see him in most areas. But in this case, he’s trying to transition to another position.”
There’s something truly exciting about seeing a new high-profileStar Warsproject in a style that many wouldn’t expect from the series. That’s part of the reason whyStar Wars: Visionsresonated with so many people. Sure, some of its own entries took inspiration from almost the exact same sources that George Lucas did when creating that world (like Kurosawa films). But the execution is where they stood out, introducing viewers to brand new ideas that injected more life into the franchise they’d already grown to love.
WhenThe Book of Boba Fettpremieres, it looks like it will serve a double purpose. First, there’s some long-time wish fulfillment for those who’ve loved Fett sinceThe Empire Strikes Back. But now it will shake things up a bit with its gangster-inspired vibe. Just like howThe Mandalorianpulled off a space western and brought in legions of new fans, maybe this one will do the same for people who really like gabagool.
The Book of Boba Fettwill premiere on December 29th, 2021, on Disney Plus.
