The Iconic Star Wars Character That Was Nearly Related To Boba Fett

In the time-honored annals of "Star Wars" lore, there are few characters quite as feared by foes, or unabashedly fawned over by fandom than the bounty hunter known as Boba Fett. The beloved character made his first big screen appearance in the galaxy far, far away circa 1980's franchise highlight "The Empire Strikes Back" — though he popped up in the non-canon holiday special in 1978 and as an action figure in 1979 — and promptly became a legit fan favorite in "Star Wars" canon. Fett did so despite the fact that he'd initially turned up alongside the vile Darth Vader in "Empire," and summarily lassoed Mr. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) with intent of delivering him to big bad Jabba the Hut.

Though Boba Fett's screen time in the original trilogy was surprisingly brief, the character became far more of a presence in both the prequel films, "Star Wars" novels, and most recently "The Mandalorian." As it is, we're set to learn even more about the Mandalorian-adjacent badass than ever before in the upcoming Disney+ streamer "The Book of Boba Fett." 

Still, like pretty much every other "Star Wars" character, Fett's backstory changed frequently prior to his arrival in the central narrative. And it seems franchise originator George Lucas at least briefly entertained the idea of making him a blood relative to a pair of major "Star Wars" players, each of whom boasted exceptional Midi-chlorian counts.

That's right, Boba Fett was almost revealed to be a relative to a couple of Force-sensitive "Star Wars" icons, which would have indeed opened up the possibility of the bounty hunter himself possessing his own Force-wielding capabilities. That didn't happen, of course, and we now know the Fett we've seen in the films and on TV is actually an unaltered clone of the fearsome Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison). But if Mark Hamill (aka Luke Skywalker himself) had gotten his way during the original trilogy's heyday, Fett would have eventually been revealed to be Luke's mother in disguise.

Yes, that would've been a head-spinning, and legitimately head-scratching twist for certain. But Hamill revealed in a pair of 2018 Twitter posts he'd actually taken it upon himself to pitch the way left-of-center idea to George Lucas, stating, "Then there was the time I pitched Boba Fett as Luke's mother." Per Hamill's Tweet, he'd pitched that shocking familial tie-in hopes of topping another major "Star Wars" twist. 

"I once suggested it to George as the only way we could top Vader being my father. I envisioned her as a double-agent working clandestinely for the Rebels. SPOILER ALERT: He [Lucas] didn't like my idea." 

And with all due respect Mr. Hamill, "Star Wars" fans likely wouldn't have been crazy about it, either.

We should probably be happy he passed on Hamill's pitch because, well, Boba Fett being Luke's mother in disguise may well have gone down as an epic groan-inducer. Still, Lucas might've passed on the idea because he'd reportedly been eyeing a different tie-in to the Skywalker family for the fearsome bounty hunter. It seems Lucas had indeed tinkered with the idea of making Boba Fett the brother of Anakin Skywalker, who would obviously become the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader. While that fateful bond would've made Fett's connections to the Galactic Empire a bit more concrete, it also would've felt forced, if not entirely unnecessary.

Still, that shocking little nugget came to light in the pages of Dale Pollock's lauded book "Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas." There's little reason to doubt it, as the information was teased by George Lucas' former wife, and "Star Wars" editor Marcia Lucas. Lucas offered that said twist would've been revealed at some point in the prequel films, stating, "George had Boba Fett and Vader being brothers in the prequels." 

George Lucas ultimately abandoned the familial bond to Lord Vader altogether, with Marcia going on to say he did so believing it would've been, "too hokey." And on this particular point, we could not agree more.