I don’t envy the filmmakers who attempt to make a prequel to any beloved franchise. On top of having to reverse engineer a story that already has a predetermined end-point, those behind the project run the risk of demystifying fan-favorite characters by telling an origin story that’s often less interesting than the moves that came before it. The often-cited prime example of this is the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, which centered on a young and temperamental Anakin Skywalker before he turned into Darth Vader.
Yet, Skywalker wasn’t the only classic character whose roots were retold on the big screen. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones introduces a ten-year-old Boba Fett, the silently enigmatic bounty hunter who first appeared as an adult in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, as the son of a contracted killer named Jango who also served as the genetic template for the Clone army. Obviously, much like Anakin, seeing such a badass character reverted to a moody pre-teen didn’t sit well with many fans.
Later on, after his father’s demise at the hands of Samuel L. Jackson’s Mace Windu, Attack of the Clones features a shot of young Boba apparently picking up and mourning his dad’s severed head. Needless to say, those who were already disappointed in Fett’s odd characterization were now thoroughly creeped out as well.
However, according to Daniel Logan – young Boba himself – viewers have misunderstood the scene in question for well over fifteen years:
You can see the shadow of Jango’s head falling out just after Mace “removes” it from his body and the helmet goes flying. So, no, no head in it when #BobaFett picks up the helmet.
Thanks @SamuelLJackson 😉 https://t.co/OFhElql9qb
— Daniel Logan (@Daniel_Logan) August 4, 2019
After going back to look at the shot of Jango taking a lightsaber to the neck, it’s true; you actually can see the shadow of the head flying out of the helmet. So, yeah, it turns out Boba is just lovingly pressing his head against his father’s empty helmet. While this doesn’t make the grisly scene any more palatable (or less ridiculous), it at least shows that those working on the special effects tried to adhere to some sort of logic. Otherwise, the subsequent shot’s attempt at poignancy would’ve been ruined by the wet thud of the elder Fett’s head, and nobody wants to see that in a Star Wars movie.
Attack of the Clones is usually considered one of the worst films in the science-fantasy franchise, but no matter what you think of it personally, at least now you know Boba Fett’s origin isn’t nearly as gross as it seems. Now, if only there was a fix for that awkward Padme-Anakin romance plot line.