The Design For Boba Fett in STAR WARS Was Originally For an Army of "Super Stormtroopers"
Here’s a little tidbit of Star Wars trivia that you may or may not know. According to Joe Johnston, who was visual effects art director on The Empire Strikes Back, the design for Boba Fett was originally meant for an army of “Super Stormtroopers” that George Lucas wanted to include in the film.
Johnston mentioned this in the Disney+ doc Boba Fett: Under the Helmet, but he also previously shared some details about this in an interview with StarWars.com, in which he shared:
“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.”
Johnston worked with concept artist Ralph McQuarrie on the design for the suit, and after the prototype armor was built producer Gary Kurtz realized that they couldn’t afford to make that many versions of the costume. So, the idea of the Super Stormtrooper was shut down. Thankfully Lucas found another opportunity to utilize the armor. Johnston went on to say:
“The outfit came back from the UK [production office] and George said, ‘Instead of an army of super troopers, this is going to be a bounty hunter.’ ’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.’”
And that’s how the legendary fan-favorite Boba Fett character was born! I love these kinds of behind-the-scenes film production stories! It’s pretty cool that after all these years, Boba Fett is finally getting his own story as a series with The Book of Boba Fett.
As for the term “Mandalorian,” Johnston says he doesn’t remember the term being used during production, or of its origins. Though he has an idea, saying, “I’m sure the term came from George, All that stuff does. Or at least he approves of it, but most of it he comes up with.”