Jeremy Bulloch portrayed Boba Fett in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. And, when an actor could not play the role of Lieutenant Sheckil, he took on the minor role in Episode V at George Lucas’ request — the first time fans saw his face in a Star Wars film. He not only appeared in the original trilogy but he also later appeared in the 2005 film, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith as Captain Colton.
Here are five little known facts about the iconic crossover character.
1. The mask was hard to navigate in
One of the questions Bulloch was asked about the most was about the iconic mask… is the mask easy to see through? Surprisingly, it wasn’t the view that was the problem. “You could see through, but breathing in it… it started to mist up,” he explained to Thrillist. “I remember counting steps: ‘one, two, three, four, go to your right.’ I had to count the steps I had because it’s not easy to walk about, and when you breathe in, it just mists up. And yet you have to try and look as cool as possible.”
2. He never met the voice of Boba Fett, Jason Wingreen
“No, I never met him, but we spoke on the phone,” he said in a 2006 interview. “We had a long chat and we’re both saying ‘What if he doesn’t survive, he’s worth a lot to me.'” Although they would have loved to meet in person, they both understood that there was no filming reason to fly the other actors around the world since the recordings were done in America, while Bulloch lived in England.
3. His son persuaded him to audition for the role
Bulloch was working at a London-based theater when his half-brother, Robert Watts, who co-produced The Empire Strikes Back, called him. “ rang me and suggested I get my agent onto Lucasfilm as there was a small part of a bounty hunter that was being cast,” he recalled to Star Wars Insider. “I explained it would be very difficult as I was working in the theater, but he suggested that I should, ‘Just give it a go.’”
Bulloch arrived at Elstree Studios and was a perfect fit – literally! “I went along and was dressed in the outfit, which fitted perfectly – even the boots were the right size – and I landed the part,” he concluded.
4. He was still working his other job while filming and had a stand-in
Bulloch was still acting in a play at a local theater during Episode V. He was not the only person who filled the Boba Fett costume during filming. “John Morton stepped in for me once because I was also appearing every night in the theater in London’s West End,” he explained to Star Wars Insider. “So, therefore, had to leave the studio in good time every afternoon,” he explains. “That particular day they were running a bit late for the scene with Darth Vader, Boba, and Lando, so John filled in. Obviously, the stuntmen stepped in for the more dangerous scenes.”
5. His ending would have been much different
Bulloch imagined a much different ending for Star Wars. He shared his dream ending to Thrillist. “When they’re all dancing, and there are the Ewoks singing, all the lovely dancing, I could see the cameras moving into all the trees, like a long pan, and then it pushes back, and there you see Boba Fett just in the hedges, just watching. Just watching,” he said. “That’s all he does. Watch. I thought that would be a nice director’s cut.”
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