Like most of Disney’s franchises, the Star Warsuniverse has a very specific storytelling style that makes the films and shows sometimes formulaic. Although there is nothing wrong with formula, the episodes can become boring and predictable.
Even The Mandalorian is a victim to the formula. I love the show and its spaghetti western feel, but the show is predictable even when the story is taking twists and turns—give us more on the lore of the Darksaber!
John Favreau and Sin Citydirector Robert Rodriguez are hoping to shake up the Star Wars universe with The Book of Boba Fett, which will hit Disney+ on Dec. 29.
The show, which has been kept under wraps from everyone, including George Lucas, follows the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) and mercenary Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) as they navigate the galaxy’s underworld and fight for Jabba the Hutt’s old territory.
Boba Fett's presumable death in 'Return of the Jedi'Credit: 20th Century Fox
Little is known about the bounty hunter in the Star Wars cinematic universe outside of the few moments he flew across the screen in The Empire Strikes Backbefore falling to his presumable death in the toothy Sarlacc pit in Return of the Jedi. The lack of story for the character gave Favreau and Rodriguez more freedom to expand on the outlaw.
Rodriguez talks about his time expanding the character, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “[Fett] was a character that was always underserved. It was a character way more popular than he should have been, based on [his limited screen time]. So it’s almost like starting with an original character. You can kind of do anything you want so long as you make him cool and don’t make him a buffoon.”
This is Rodriguez’s first time working with the Star Wars universe, but he has been working with Lucas since 2001. Lucas introduced the young filmmaker to digital cameras, showing him the possibilities to do more with a green screen than what others thought was possible. Without Lucas and the digital camera, Rodriguez wouldn’t have made Sin City.
Robert Rodriguez and George LucasCredit: Getty Images
The love of technical innovation and love of digital filmmaking led to Rodriguez directing ambitious live-action projects like Alita: Battle Angel. Although we don't have many details on the show, Rodriguez's love of the green screen could create a digital world for the bounty hunter to live and fight in, opening up the universe to a better-rendered version of the Star Wars prequels.
The pressures of COVID-19 also made Rodriguez anxious to get the filming done as quickly as possible back in November 2020. The pandemic impacted the show’s creative team, so Rodriguez wore many hats during the shoot, filming about half of the episodes himself.
He would pre-vis ideas by filming action figures in his backyard with his five children, then show the footage to the actors on set, adding his own sound effects to bring the action to life.
The limited time with almost unlimited freedom gave Rodriguez the ability to create the show his 12-year-old self would have wanted to see within the Star Wars canon. The passion project left Rodriguez satisfied, and he hopes to return to the project if fans love it as much as he does.
What we can expect is something fresh and exciting that makes Boba Fett an even more beloved Star Wars character.
What are your predictions about The Book of Boba Fett? Are you excited to see what Robert Rodriguez is offering to the Star Wars cinematic universe? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
