Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Boba Fett. Which Star Wars story will release in 2020?

Star WarsBy Gavin May 26, 2018Comments

This weekend sees Solo: A Star Wars Story hit theaters worldwide after a long and troubled production. Chronicling how Han Solo met Chewbacca and how the duo commandeered the millennium falcon from fellow scoundrel Lando Calrissian, the movie marks this year's annual Star Wars movie release. With the as-of-yet untitled Episode IX due for release in December of next year Lucasfilm's plans for 2020 remain unconfirmed. With Rian Johnson's trilogy and the new movies from Game of Thrones scribes David Benioff and D. B. Weiss still early in development, many have been speculating that 2020 may see the release of the long-rumored Obi-Wan Kenobi movie. Such speculation was fueled recently with reports that a non-episodic Star Wars movie was scheduled to enter production early next year. However recent reports that Wolverine and Logan writer/director James Mangold has taken over writing and directorial duties of the previously canceled Boba Fett movie begs the question of which of these two eagerly anticipated movies will be released in 2020.

Kenobi: A Star Wars Story

Image for Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Boba Fett. Which Star Wars story will release in 2020?

It has been reported that British director Stephen Daldry is Lucasfilm's preferred choice to co-write and direct a Star Wars story spin-off movie chronicling Obi-Wan Kenobi's years in exile on Tatooine with Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, and Joel Edgerton each having expressed interest in reprising their roles for the movie. Set between Episode III (Revenge of the Sith) and Episode IV (A New Hope), many have speculated that a Kenobi movie would also feature Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, likely hunting down the remaining Jedi that survived Order 66, with commentators such as Collider's Jedi Council host Kristian Harloff having cited the following dialogue from Episode VI (Return of the Jedi) as evidence that Kenobi and Vader would likely confront each other in the movie.

Darth Vader - "Obi-Wan once thought as you do"

Boba Fett: A Star Wars Story

Image for Obi-Wan Kenobi vs Boba Fett. Which Star Wars story will release in 2020?

Shortly after Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 the first movies to be announced to be in development were Episode VII (The Force Awakens), Rogue One (the first Star Wars Story), and a Boba Fett movie. With J. J. Abrams helming Episode VII, and Gareth Edwards helming Rogue One Lucasfilm hired Chronicle director Josh Trank to helm the Boba Fett movie, with a sizzle reel reportedly having been produced. However, following the fallout of Fan4stic Lucasfilm was quick to distance themselves from the maverick director and the Boba Fett movie was seemingly put on indefinite hold, until reports that James Mangold will helm the project arose. Fans have speculated that a Boba Fett movie could either be set between Episodes III and IV, or after Episode VI, with the bounty hunter escaping death from the jaws of the Sarlaac, as seen in the fan trailer by Eric Demeusy.

Temuera Morrison, who portrayed Jango Fett in Episode II (Attack of the Clones) and voiced Boba Fett in the controversial 2004 DVD re-releases of Episodes IV-VI has expressed interest in reprising the role which he has also voiced in EA DICE's two Star Wars: Battlefront video games.

With division running throughout the Star Wars fanbase, each of the above possible movies has its supporters and detractors. Many fans cite McGregor's portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi as one of the few saving graces of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, while detractors argue that a Kenobi movie set during the characters exileon Tatooine would be light on any adventure. Conversely, while Boba Fett is universally accepted as one of the coolest looking characters in the entire Star Wars universe, many detractors argue that the bounty hunters shallow character and inepitude in his chosen career are reason enough to avoid the character starring in his own movie.

Yoda - "There is another."

Of course, there is a third possibility; in which Boba Fett joins the cast of a Kenobi/Vader movie, with Darth Vader hiring the Bounty Hunter (and many others of his profession) to locate the Jedi the Sith Lord is searching for. Such a movie could see Boba Fett disintegrate one of the Jedi on Vaders hit list, as was mentioned in Episode V (the Empire strikes back). In such a movie Fett would likely discover Kenobi on Tatooine, possibly assaulting the Jedi (for discovering him and Jango on Kamino) before relaying the Jedi masters whereabouts to Vader. Vader's arrival on Tatooine and subsequent battle with Kenobi could culminate in Vader learning of Lukes existence, sowing the seeds for Anakin's redemption. There is even the possibility that a Kenobi/Vader movie featuring Boba Fett could also cameo Darth Maul (see Solo: A Star Wars Story) mistaken as a Jedi with the two Sith Lords duelling. However should such a confrontation take place it would not be a fatal encounter, as both characters fates are already known.

Are you eager for a Kenobi movie or a Boba Fett movie, or as we propose a movie featuring both characters and others?

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