CLASSIC IMAGE: PRISONER AND ESCORT!

Breaking through Jabba's palace enforcers on Tatooine, the mysterious bounty hunter Boushh arrives at court with his captured prey, the mighty Chewbacca. But how was this possible? And what surprise lays in store for the Hutt slug?

A great atmospheric image from Return of the Jedi. 

'THE CLONE WARS': DEADLIER THAN THE MALE!

Her life as a bounty hunter may have been cut off (permanently) by Lando Calrissian, doing the universe a favour in the process, but the legendary, totally deadly Aurra Sing lives on in the historical realms of drama and violence within The Clone Wars animated series.

EPISODE V: THE DISINTEGRATOR!

The slightest sound heard on his receptors can mean potential conflict for Boba Fett, unwilling to let his prize in carbon frozen Han Solo be taken away from him as he makes his way to Slave 1 and departure to Tatooine, in this super close-in image of the character from The Empire Strikes Back.

Jeremy Bulloch interview:

https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-identities-jeremy-bulloch-interview

Though The Mandalorian continues to be a fun series (and hopefully a fun movie experience, too!), it was a great shame that the originally planned Boba Fett standalone film never happened. Though the project has since been allegedly 'debunked' by Kathleen Kennedy, remember when this news first came out? And the Celebration convention preview alongside Rogue One?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-boba-fett-movie-is-happening-james-mangold-direct-1113273

EPISODE II: IN FOR THE KILL!

Bounty Hunters come in all shapes and sizes from across the galaxy, but Zam Wesell must be one of the most intriguing, as seen in EPISODE II, on a mission to assassinate Senator Padme Amidala on Coruscant, under orders from a mysterious Mandalorian armoured paymaster, and using its special skill-sets to the fullest.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: INTRODUCING A BOUNTY HUNTER...

Ready to take the bounty, Boba Fett, as special art personified by his visual co-creator, Joe Johnston. 

"George (Lucas) wanted a new trooper. The original idea behind Boba Fett was that he was going to be an army of super troopers. There was going to be 40,000 of these guys. He's sort of a bad guy but he's not on the Empire's side and he's not on the rebels' side. He's like a free agent, and he goes around the galaxy arresting people and bringing them back to justice or bringing them back to Jabba the Hutt or whoever. He's a mercenary. He'll do anything for money, and his outfit, the way he looks, should reflect that."

Joe Johnston, on the conception of the greatest Star Wars saga bounty hunter, Boba Fett, who debuted in live action form within the drama of The Empire Strikes Back.

Empire at 40 | Designing an Icon: Joe Johnston on the Journey to Create Boba Fett | StarWars.com

Fett on a speeder bike, in another original art piece by Joe Johnston.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: BOUNTY HUNTER ASSEMBLY!

On the command deck of his Super Star Destroyer, much to the irritant of the Imperial Officers under his command, Darth Vader has put the call out to the deadliest group of Bounty Hunters in the galaxy to search for the Millennium Falcon and its occupants. Amongst them, and at the very top of the tree in his chosen specialist field of 'business', the totally lethal and resourceful Boba Fett, soon to be a legend of the Star Wars universe.

Left to right: Dengar (Moray Bush), IG-88 (a prop operated by UK Effects technician Bill Hargreaves), Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch), Bossk (Alan Harris), 4-Lom (Chis Parsons) and Zuckuss (Cathy Munroe).

CLASSIC IMAGE: WHEN HUNTERS GATHER...

Two of the rarer explored alien bounty hunters of the live-action Star Wars Original Trilogy, though they have thrived in comics and book adventures over the years, the insect head-like droid 4-Lom (Chris Parsons) and the more humanoid Zuckuss (Kathy Munro aka Catherine Munroe) assemble with the rival likes of Boba Fett and IG-88 on the Star Destroyer Executor's bridge, awaiting instructions from their new potential pay master in the notorious Darth Vader, a fearsome individual not afraid to use the scum of the universe for his own means. 

The Empire Strikes Back not just got a whole lot nastier and darker with this scene, but also opened up a much wider universe full of shady evil beyond the Emperor's dominion...

Wearing the 4-Lom mask at Elstree.

One of Stuart Freeborn's studio team works on the Zuckuss head.

Behind the scenes in April, 1979 at Elstree Studios, the two alien's heads would be created by Stuart Freeborn's dedicated team, though the costumes and weapons were adapted from stock, or rented items from costumers/armourers.

CLASSIC ART: DANGER AMONGST THE CLOUDS!

 

He has his prize in the carbon frozen visage of his former enemy and bounty Captain Han Solo, his money awaits for the capture task from a hungry Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine - the slimy crime boss eager to receive his soon favourite decoration for the wall of his throne room, and he has clearance from the Imperials to depart the now captured Cloud City on Bespin. Fortune clearly favours the bold skillsets of the dangerous Boba Fett, in this great art that graced the cover of an early eighties issue of the UK's Star Wars Monthly comic strip magazine.  

THE CLONE WARS: THAT OUTLAW CAD BANE!

His fury unleashed, fully-armed Bounty Hunter Cad Bane is all-out aggressive in this terrific The Clone Wars art parody on the classic movie poster for Clint Eastwood's trailblazing seventies Western genre classic, The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Superb work from Daz Tibbles at Deviant Art.

'ATTACK' AT 20: DANGER ON CORUSCANT!

A disguised Padme tends to her dying 'decoy' bodyguard, Corde.

Someone is out to murder Senator Padme Amidala!

Despite all security precautions, secretly returning to Coruscant to vote on a critical Republic bill linked to the creation of the controversial Army of the Republic, Padme is soon in the crosshairs of the clever Bounty Hunter Zam Wesell, of which two trusted Jedi, past known to the Senator (the noble Obi-Wan Kenobi and his love-smitten-for-Padme Padawan Learner, the youthfully edgy Anakin Skywalker) are soon in pursuit of both Wesell and the so-far elusive paymaster who will ultimately kill the shape-changing alien before she can talk to her captors.

The mystery continues, and deepens...

The 'decoy' Padme makes her way off the Naboo vessel...

... but is soon slain by a mystery enemy!

The fiery assassination attempt on the Coruscant landing pad.

Deadly poisonous Kouhun creatures are used in a soon-stopped second murder attempt.

As Obi-Wan crashes onto a remote droid, Dorme (Rose Byrne) tends to Padme.

Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi follows the trail to the bounty hunter above Coruscant.

The mysterious Zam Wesell (Leanna Walsman) takes aim in this publicity image.

A new target for Zam: Obi-Wan Kenobi!

Rescued by a timely arrived Anakin, as the speeder chase begins..

Power couplings prove a danger!

Then Anakin goes spectacularly solo to bring Wesell's speeder down!

Obi-Wan finally apprehends the shape-changer in a local sports bar.

Taken out for questioning in a side alley.

The shape-changer is killed before revealing the person who hired her.

'THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT' - TRAILER ONE HAS ARRIVED...

The last time we saw the notorious, back-from-the-dead bounty hunter Boba Fett he looked very comfortable on the throne room chair within the late Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine. Now, let's see what happens next in this first teaser trailer for the Disney+ series, The Book of Boba Fett, debuting December 29th, 2021.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: RESTRAINING FETT!

Showing a kind of respect for his captured heroes, Darth Vader stops Boba Fett from dispatching the noble Chewbacca, who has shown great bravery against the Imperial Stormtroopers in protecting Han Solo. But it is to no avail - Solo will be carbon frozen...

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: TREACHERY AT CLOUD CITY!

"No one's giving Han to this bounty hunter!"

An angry Lando finds the original deal he'd conceived with Darth Vader for the safety of his rebel fiends being compromised once again, especially with the presence of the deadly bounty hunter Boba Fett and his bounty from Jabba the Hutt for Han Solo's life. 

"Perhaps you think you're being treated unfairly...?"

With other commitments to a London stage play, Jeremy Bulloch is not available to play Boba Fett for the day's 21st May, 1979 filming, leading to the stills photography of a classic scene. Of similar height and build, actor John Morton, who'd also play the ill-fated Rebel Snowspeeder pilot Dack, fills in for the other actor. Morton is given advice by Bulloch on the character's unique body movements and subtle, dangerous gestures for the filming. 

Billy Dee Williams clowns around alongside Boba Fett (John Morton).

Irvin Kershner positions a stormtrooper at the entrance to the torture chamber.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: CREATING 'SLAVE 1'

 

Art by Nilo Rodis Jamero.

A sinister and formidable bounty hunter like Boba Fett needs a similarly sinister and formidable ship to achieve his goals, and the memorable Slave 1 would soon prove an ugly-looking and intimidating, capable stand-out vessel of the Star Wars saga.

A selection of conceptual art pieces and model shots for the vehicle.

Further ship detailing of one of the ship's flap wings.

Behind the scenes at ILM's model shop.

Prototype.

Lorne Peterson at work.

Lorne Peterson works on the ship with ease Owyeung.

Ken Ralston preparing the model for filming on the ILM blue screen stage.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: 'NO DISINTEGRATIONS!'

Darth Vader gives his instructions to the collected Bounty Hunters in searching for the elusive Millennium Falcon, but soon turns his specific notice to the infamous Boba Fett, warning him he wants the captured ship's occupants alive - 'No disintegrations!'

Filmed in early April 1979, great care was taken by Irvin Kershner and producer Gary Kurtz to get the visual look and menacing aura of new villain Boba Fett right for the sequence on the Star Destroyer bridge. Respected US film/TV character actor Jason Woodgreen would later provide the unique and truly slimy voice of Fett in Empire for several memorable lines during the film's American-based post production dubbing phase, and paid a minimal fee for his contribution- no one knew how successful the character of Fett was going to be in the days before release!

The close-up scene between Vader and Fett was additionally shot May 16th, 1979 by a second unit, as George Lucas wanted the 'no disintegrations!" line issued to him rather than Zuckuss, whom Vader originally talked to in the prior April filming.

A selection of various behind the scenes filming images from the bridge filming.

Unused shots showing Vader arriving to inspect the assembled Bounty Hunters.