Star Wars Creature Profiles: Sarlacc from Return of the Jedi
By Elaine Tveit
In this week’s Star Wars Creature Profiles, we look at the sarlacc, the tentacled monster that resides in the sands of Tatooine in Return of the Jedi.
If your dream is to find a new definition of pain and suffering in the belly of a sand monster for a thousand years, the sarlacc is the Star Wars creature for you. Tentacled, beaked and always hungry, the sarlacc played a big role in the beginning of Return of the Jedi. Consequently, it deserves its own Star Wars Creature Profile.
What is it?
The sarlacc is a huge creature with an enormous mouth, out of which protrude tentacles and a beaked tongue. Its tentacles are especially useful for pulling in potential victims to swallow. Inside the sarlacc’s belly, victims are slowly digested over the course of a thousand years.
Where does it live?
Sarlacc live in pits in the sands of Tatooine.
What Star Wars Story does it appear in?
The sarlacc appears in the beginning of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Meanwhile, its distant cousin, the rathtar, makes trouble for Han Solo, Finn and Rey in The Force Awakens. Yet two more relatives of the sarlacc, the blixus and the vixus, stimy clone troopers in The Clone Wars animated series.
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How is it important to Star Wars storytelling?
In the beginning of Return of the Jedi, Jabba the Hutt tries to serve Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca to the sarlacc of the Great Pit of Carkoon as punishment for getting on Jabba’s bad side. Fortunately, only Jabba’s thugs – including the notorious Boba Fett – are unlucky enough to satisfy the creature’s hunger. The sarlacc does, however, almost eat Lando Calrissian, as well, before Han and Chewbacca rescue their old friend from the sarlacc’s roving tentacle.
What do you think of the sarlacc? Did any of the information in the profile surprise you? Comment below.