We’re closer now to The Book of Boba Fett than we’ve ever been, and the more time that passes, the more speculation about potential character cameos grows.
Of all the possible familiar characters that could make appearances from other shows and even past Star Wars movies, Captain Rex makes symbolic and logistical sense. Temeura Morrison is already on board. He could easily play multiple characters. And in recent years especially, Star Wars storytelling hasn’t shied away from telling deeply emotional stories about people trying to figure out who they are and where they belong in the galaxy.
Put Boba Fett in close proximity to another clone (again), and almost anything could happen.
The Book of Boba Fett has the potential to do something Star Wars canon hasn’t done on the small screen yet: Explore Boba Fett’s potential struggles with identity. His comment in The Mandalorian‘s second season that the Empire would recognize his face if he removed his helmet wasn’t just a passing, slightly humorous remark. Imagine being Boba Fett during the fall of the Galactic Republic, realizing you now share a face with the very men being “phased out” of the Emperor’s new regime.
We know that there are likely very few clones left in the galaxy by the time Luke Skywalker leaves Tatooine for the first time in A New Hope. Star Wars Rebels also showed us the lengths remaining clones such as Gregor and Rex went to hide from the Empire after escaping into its shadow.
What better way to address Boba’s identity crisis than having him confront an identical man who has also grappled with the meaning of his existence in the aftermath of the destructive end to The Clone Wars?
There’s no rule established that says The Book of Boba Fett can’t jump around to different points in the Star Wars timeline as it progresses. Boba could meet Rex while he’s still relatively young. They could meet at some point during the time between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Rex could also appear during the Mandalorian timeline, present day as far as these two shows are concerned.
Seeing Rex in live-action would be thrilling enough on its own, and with more and more characters jumping from animation to live-action and back again, it’s more probable now than it’s ever been. But seeing Rex interact with Boba – both played by the same actor, perhaps? – would add a completely new and deeper dynamic to the larger story this show is setting out to tell.
The Book of Boba Fett premieres exclusively on Disney+ December 29, 2021.