Discussion Anthology: News and Rumors (General Discussion Welcome)

The only reason Boba is an antagonist in the OT is because he happens to be after the good guys. Aside from the fact that he tends to work for people who are shady or evil, I don't see anything in those films that indicate that he's actually evil himself. I think he could be fine as an anti-hero and I'm certain that's how they'll want to use him anyway. If he's just an unstoppable force who's after a hero like Obi-Wan or Ahsoka the it ceases to be a Boba Fett film and becomes a film about them. If he gets a spin-off he's going to be the main character. I have no doubt about that. The man with no name as a template is perfect.

 

I disagree with this assessment. A bounty hunter, by definition, is inherently neither good or evil. They are morally grey businessmen who's "compass" of character is dictated not by honor or principle, but by their pursuit of monetary gain. Sure, Boba was portrayed as an evil character by proxy in the films, seeing as he was employed by the Empire, but who's to say his previous job before that wasn't a Republic/Rebel contracted job?

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Boba hate the Jedi in TCWs? thus suggesting he would be a "bad" guy since he is against the Jedi "good" guys

 

Well, his father was killed by a Jedi. He has a personal vendetta against the Jedi, but having an understandable bias doesn't necessarily make him entirely evil, so to speak.

 

how about a Vader spin-off film?

I mean.. it could be set before Rebels or lead into Rebels..

 

... talking about exploitation westerns... i read an article or watched a video--i forget--where Tarantino mentions some kind of obscure sub-genre of western where the villains become sympathetic protagonists not because they've been turned into anti-heroes (another anti-hero??? ) or anything like that but, rather, because the antagonists are morally even worse, that much darker, unrepentant, unsympathetic, etc.... anyway, that's the impression i got from what QT said and i wish i could remember where he said this... but, yeah, i think that if Boba Fett MUST somehow be transformed into a sympathetic character? this would be a good, palatable approach...

... personally, i think the screenwriters should have him go HAM and/or go about his biz in a way where his character becomes completely demystified... show how tedious, grueling, uncool of a life the guy leads as a bounty hunter, which i'm sure is a repugnant and sad occupation... but, yeah, who'd go see that?

 

Spin off films i want:

Darth Vader: Seeing Vader hunt down the jedi would be a fantastic film, especially if you put a character like Master Vos in there too?

Anakin Skywalker: An additional film could bring a lot more to the Prequel trilogy. Seeing more of Anakin's bad characteristics would help show how he is turning. For example, i mentioned in another thread that Padme could be kidknapped and he goes to save her etc.

Young Count Dooku: No particular reason for this, would just be interesting to see Dooku as a jedi i think.

 

So what was confirmed today? At least 3 spinoff's?
Give me:
Boba Fett
Young Count Dooku/Tyranus and Sifo Dyas
(I wouldn't touch the OT unless it is done seperate from Emperor/Vader and the heroes)
Bounty Hunters vs Jedi and Royal Guards when they were in the Republic

 

So you can only be deemed evil or villainous if you kill for pleasure rather than kill for money? Or are we saying that Boba never killed or sort to kill at all?

 

In the last year I have really warmed to the idea of a young Han Solo film. I would love to see the first meeting between him and Chewbacca and the forming of their friendship.

 

The problem is that "protagonist / antagonist" and "hero / villain" are not synonymous.
The first is only about who we follow and who we're supposed to be invested in (one way or another).
The second is a moral judgement about the character, regardless of their position in the story.

Boba Fett in the OT kills for money, and has no qualms about it. I'd say that definitely makes him more a villain than a hero or even anti-hero (but I wouldn't say evil). What's important is that he's an enigmatic villain. Even when he's trying to kill the protagonist in RotJ, we don't hate him for it. We just became curious. Who is he? Where'd he get that armor?
That fascination and mystery makes him a very effective protagonist, regardless of his debatable moral character.

Riddick would be the most popular recent example of a Villain Protagonist. Not saying he's how I'd portray Fett at all, but there are a few lessons to be learned there.

 

The only problem is that we now know the answers to those questions.

 

I would love to see an Aurra Sing solo, although unfortunately the character has a bad habit of falling to the wayside. Remember all that hype about her appearing in AOTC and ROTS only to be a no-show? How about the live action TV series that never happened set revolving around the criminal underworld? Or what about the hype for her role in The Clone Wars: Season 3 only to show up in one episode and never be seen from again in the series? Or the Bounty Hunter arc that was rumoured for the Lost Missions only to never see the light of day

The only time she's ever been given decent exposure on screens was during the Boba Fett trilogy. It would be great if someone at Disney/Lucasfilm would use Aurra to her full potential for a change.

 

if they keep mara jade what is your take on a spinoff film for her?

 

And that is of course the dilemma the filmmakers have... if some people think he's a crafty villain and some think he's a cool anti-hero, then who will they be wanting the film to appeal to? Do we get Boba the misunderstood protector of the innocent or Boba the merciless gun for hire who'll stop at nothing to get his quary? If there's no clear delineation then not only will the writers have a problem, but so will marketing. And that's why in, my opinion, a Boba Fett movie doesn't have the legs unless they firstly, determine what character type he is. Secondly, they enforce/define that character type through the plot/narrative. I have no doubt that they, the filmmakers, will want to portray Boba Fett as the anti-hero... and that's why there's a big risk we'll probably end up with a subpar film... think the Judge Dredd films.

Interesting that you say that if Boba is portrayed like the Terminator, then the film becomes more about the protagonists than it does him. The films featuring the Terminator are of course titled 'The Terminator'... and whilst the story is told through the eyes of someone else (Sarah Connor/John Connor) the Terminator itself is very prominent and is usually the character that drives the thrust of the film. I see no reason why a similar template wouldn't/couldn't be described as a 'Boba Fett movie'. In fact - as already discussed... I think it's by far the best template to use given that Boba Fett has become popular by being a largely mysterious, non-dialogue driven character.

Good points and I think that's a good example re. Riddick. But it's worth pointing out that, IMHO, the only Riddick film of any worth was the first... Pitch Black... where Riddick was almost a secondary character. As soon as he was expanded upon, and became the lead (in the 2 subsequent films), the character was effectively destroyed - for me anyhow.

 

A pure sith film regarding their origins and their hideouts would be the most interesting but the toughest to nail, the most accessible is probably a boba fett/ solo arch.

 

I chose Han Solo, Boba Fett, Obi Wan, and Lando.

A Han Solo, er, solo film is an obvious go-to for Disney. A film focusing on his early years before A New Hope is the obvious way to go, perhaps focusing on his meeting with Chewie and explaining Chewie's life debt (while I'm sure that's been covered in the old EU, since that's been tossed they can re-approach that story onscreen.

Boba Fett is another given due to the popularity of the character, both amongst Star Wars fans and the general public. And it could be an interesting experiment in using an anti-hero/villain as the main focus in the Star Wars universe. Focus on his early years as a bounty hunter, teaming up with characters like Bossk, Aurra Sing, etc.

An Obi Wan film could focus on his years between RotS and ANH, running and hiding out from Vader and the Empire. Could be more of a suspense film, with a sort of Anne Frank hiding from the Nazis vibe, but with more action. It could also establish Obi Wan living on Tatooine, but occasionally traveling to Alderaan to keep watch over both Luke and Leia from afar.

And a Lando film could also focus on his early years, with a sort of Ocean's 11 influence... in space! A heist film with plenty of sabacc and a smidge of womanizing. A strong female counterpart to Lando would make for an interesting back and forth, sort of comparable to the Han/Leia relationship from the original trilogy, but with a distinct identity and difference.

I'd prefer they NOT do a Yoda solo film, as I think much of the character's appeal is the sense of mystery that surrounds him. That's just me, personally, but I don't think a Yoda film is a good idea in general, nor would it do the character justice, since any film reality would likely pale in comparison to the wonderment fans have built up in their minds about Yoda's past and origin.

 

I like the way you (and Tarantino) think a lot. What you posted sounds a lot darker and more violent that what I would want in my standard mythological Star Wars, but by their very nature the spin-off films should go out and do things that the core films can't/won't do.

 

Whilst I'd certainly like to see those type of Star Wars films, I don't believe that those are the type of SW films Lucasfilm/Disney want to make. Even when talking about the spins offs, I think there is a desire for them to be big, populist, event movies that make money a la Captain America, Iron Man etc. I really don't think Lucasfilm/Disney are going to risk box office by making them violent or more 'adult themed'.

 

All of the Marvel movies are tonally very different from one another despite being 'populist.' There's absolutely no reason that every Star Wars film would have to feel identical to one another beyond laziness and an unwillingness to take risks (which would feel almost like a slap in the face to Lucas). Even the six core films all feel different from one another.

And I don't really want to see Tarantino-level violence, just that sort of mentality if they go about making a film with a villainous main character.

 

I like the way you (and Tarantino) think a lot. What you posted sounds a lot darker and more violent that what I would want in my standard mythological Star Wars, but by their very nature the spin-off films should go out and do things that the core films can't/won't do.[/quote]


... thx... i should really hunt down that Tarantino article or interview or whatevr it was... good info there... i had never heard of these types of westerns that Tarantino was talking about... they definitely sound like original takes on the genre... but, yeah, i mean, i know Disney would never sign off on such a dark approach to anything related to their $4billion investment (billion) but i think someone on here had asked how you could turn Boba Fett into a plausible protagonist or something liek that? was only thinking out loud... and you can always hope... most likely they'll go anti-hero though...

... just hope they don't give the guy a dog! or a cute little child sidekick or...

wait.

no, but yeah, though it's obviously already been done? maybe they can redo the Jango/Boba Boy dynamic somehow... that'll make Boba Fett less unsympathetic right?... though that would be child endangerment and i doubt DIsney Corp would want to go there... dude, where's Lucas when you need him???*

.... or just start the story off with Boba Fett as a boy.. kind of an Oliver Twist-thing... the boy just lost his father, runs into a Fagin-type, etc...

... and yeah, i think you can go hard, okay, really hard, without having to throw buckets of blood Tarantino-style up on the screen. just keep the attitude and the mentality...

*one thing i'll miss sorely in VII and in general where the spin-offs are concerned is that soft, Lucasian touch... i mean, say what you will about the bombast in prequel trilogy but there's also a certain... vibe that you get from them... there's something satisfyingly unique and authorial about the prequels... it's mostly a feeling that i get when i watch them... an eeriness... i don't get this feeling from any other movies... i mean, his creative team obviously must had a hand in creating it but i think that this uniqueness is mostly Lucas... becuase you can feel it on the page too... i've flipped though the screenplay for episode i and you get that same eeriness that you get in the movie, in particular in the opening pages... yeah, hoping the spin-offs give off some unique vibes as well...

 

The Marvel films are pretty much identical in terms of overall tone... they are lightweight, popcorn films that don't take themselves seriously and that are designed to maximise popularity - the exception being the last Captain America movie... which was a tad more sombre and less frivolous (and probably the best one to date IMHO). Tonally different would be something like The Dark Knight and Batman & Robin or Unforgiven and Young Guns, Casino Royale and The Spy Who Loved Me. The Marvel films are pretty seamless in terms of their tonality... and I think that's what Lucasfilm/Disney would like to replicate I.e. spin offs that appeal to the biggest audience and that generally keep that same audience coming back.

 

New article that suggests the Boba Fett spin-off is in the works:

"The Boba Fett movie was confirmed by Metalocalypse director John Schnepp during a press interview where he said the Star Wars spinoff was already in pre-production:​

“One of them is Boba Fett. It is. I know. I know for a fact. I will never reveal my source, but it is the one written by Lawrence Kasdan.”​

 

http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=16770

I hope Joe Johnston gets his chance to direct this. But looks like he's already in pre-production on Gotti, the movie about the gangster family headed by John Gotti.

 

Is there just me who thinks the spinoffs would be best saved for after the main trilogy is complete?

I just think it might ruin any suspense or anticipation that a cliffhanger might have, as well as undermining the new characters' positions as the new focus of the saga...