Boba Fett movie fails to launch, spin-off no longer in development
In a not-so-surprising move, Disney has officially cancelled its plans for a Boba Fett film and will instead focus on Jon Favreau’s upcoming The Mandalorian TV series.
The news came directly from Star Wars head honcho Kathleen Kennedy, who told Critics Choice Association journalist Erick Weber at a Black Panther awards reception that Boba Fett was prematurely killed … again. Deadline reports that Logan director James Mangold is no longer involved in the project. He is currently focused on the 20th Century Fox vehicle Ford v. Ferrari with Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
The decision was obviously a swift reaction to the poor reception of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which received favorable reviews, but tanked at the box office with just $392 million worldwide against a reported $300 million production budget (thanks in party to extensive reshoots).
A bounty hunter, Boba Fett made his debut in Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back originally (before “The Special Edition” of A New Hope gave him an earlier appearance) as one of the bounty hunters hired by the Empire to find the Millennium Falcon. Fett succeeded in his mission and took Han Solo back to Jabba’s Palace, where he would meet an untimely end in the Sarlac Pitt. Some say he’s still being digested to this day. The character also appeared as a young boy in Star Wars: Episode II, where it was revealed that his classic look and ship came from his father Jango Fett, who was also the basis for the titular Clone army. The character has long been a fan favorite.