In an exclusive report today from Peter Sciretta at SlashFilm, it was revealed that Timothy Olyphant would be wearing Boba Fett’s iconic Mandalorian armor for his recently announced role in Season 2 of Star Wars: The Mandalorian.
At first glance, this announcement might be a tad confusing, especially since it was also recently announced that Temera Morrison would be playing Boba Fett. If you know your expanded universe lore, however, this minor costuming controversy points to a potentially sublime plot/casting choice.
Star Wars: Aftermath, a trilogy of novels by Chuck Wendig, takes place immediately falling the Empire’s defeat in Return of the Jedi. In it, he introduced a character named Cobb Vanth, the self-appointed sheriff of Freetown on the planet Tatooine. If you think embarking on a solo quest to bring law and order to a town on such a lawless planet would be difficult, you’re absolutely correct. Fortunately, Vanth was able to acquire a certain legendary set of acid-scarred armor to protect him while simultaneously intimidating any would-be attackers.
Wendig doesn’t come out and say it, but it’s strongly hinted that Vanth’s armor previously belonged to Boba Fett. The acid damage all but confirms that it at least came from the sarlacc in the Great Pit of Carkoon that Boba Fett was accidentally knocked into during Han Solo’s rescue in Return of the Jedi.
So does this mean that Boba Fett really did perish in such an undignified manner? Will his appearance in The Mandalorian only be in a flashback? Or does it mean that we’re going to have one heck of an awkward/awesome encounter between a badass sheriff and the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy on a quest to reclaim what’s his?
Whatever the case, the appearance of Fett’s armor in possession of a ruthlessly determined lawman presents the opportunity to tell a great story. Also, Timothy Olyphant is the perfect choice to play a character like Vanth, as evidence by his similar roles in Justified and Deadwood.
Timothy Olyphant as Marshall Raylan Givens in ‘Justified’ (FX)
Even if Olyphant doesn’t end up playing the sheriff of Freetown, however, it will be all types of interesting to see how this plays out. Regardless of what happens and what roles come to fruition, it’s becoming more and more likely that the legend of Boba Fett will play an integral role The Mandalorian‘s second season.
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