Behind the Scenes

Video footage from 1978 of the original Boba Fett costume design has been posted on the official Star Wars website.

According to the video, once the costume design by Joe Johnson was approved by George Lucas, the prototype was built in George's house. For the video introduction, Ben Burtt (Sound Designer for "The Empire Strikes Back") interviews Fett who was portrayed in costume by Duwayne Dunham (Assistant Film Editor on "The Empire Strikes Back").

Burtt, along with Norman Reynolds (Production Designer for "The Empire Strikes Back"), gives a full run down of the costume's parts and all of it's armaments and various weapons. They discuss the costume's planned color scheme, some the character's backstory and role in the galaxy, and even his purpose in the franchise.

According to Burtt, they "wanted a character that could make public appearances and I think Boba was kind of designed as a character, between 'Star Wars' and 'Empire', that they could, you know, get the public excited about something new."

The concept suit itself is impressively functional. All of the electronics on it work and flicker just as they do in the movie. The left gauntlet has a working flame thrower and Fett's trademark "rocket launcher". The right gauntlet came equipped with darts, a wrist laser, a working flashlight, and even a special effects toggle that would ignite the smoke 'thrusters' in the jetpack worn on the actor's back. Although the suit is completely white and sans the wookiee scalps we are all so familiar with, it is very nearly identical to the one used on screen (minus the "Star Wars' beach towel-cape).

Related Videos in This Category

• Meet Boba Fett: Initial Boba Fett Costume Screentest (1978) - you are here
• George Lucas Asked By MTV About Boba Fett's Popularity (1997)
• Boba Fett in "Star Wars: Special Edition" Red Carpet Premiere in Hollywood (1997)