Much like The Mandalorian's first two seasons, The Book of Boba Fett has been a Star Wars fan's dream of Easter eggs and cameos not just from the films but also the universe's various animated series, video games, and even comics. While Lucasfilm's latest series brought Black Krrsantan and a BD-unit to live-action, what many fans are waiting for is another beloved bounty hunter - Cad Bane.
When Lucasfilm's Dave Filoni directs, Star Wars fans pay attention. After he introduced Ahsoka Tano to live-action in Season 2 of The Mandalorian, the question was which animated character from The Clone Wars or Star Wars Rebels might appear in his directorial episode of The Book of Boba Fett.
Warning - This article contains spoilers for "Chapter 6" of The Book of Boba Fett.
Well, being a Star Wars fan himself, Filoni clearly understood the assignment. In "From The Desert Comes a Stranger," Filoni not only included familiar faces from past seasons of The Mandalorian but also Cad Bane's long-awaited, live-action debut.
However, for audiences who aren't familiar with Lucasfilm's animated shows, it's important to know who this gunslinging bounty hunter is and why he matters to Boba Fett's story.
Who Is the Voice Actor for Cad Bane?
Cad Bane is a fan-favorite bounty hunter and antagonist who first appeared in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series where he was brilliantly voiced by Corey Burton. Following the death of Boba's father, Jango, in Attack of the Clones, Bane became the galaxy's most infamous mercenary before Boba's rise to prominence in the original trilogy.
The Good, the Bad, & the Bane
Bane is a Duros from the planet Duro and has blue skin, red eyes, and a noseless face; and much like his fellow bounty hunters, Bane was directly inspired by characters from Westerns, particularly those played by Lee Van Cleef in Clint Eastwood's films.
He also looks the part due to his signature wide-brimmed hat, dual blasters with hip holsters, and Western-style duster.
A Bounty Hunter's Arsenal
Weapons may be part of Mando's religion, but Cad Bane's arsenal is truly unique and specific to him. In addition to his twin blasters, Bane sports wrist gauntlets that perform a variety of functions and even contain a flamethrower and contact stunner.
He also has a breathing apparatus that allows him to work in harsh environments and prevents him from being Force choked; and while both Boba and Mando have jet packs, Bane has jet boots.
Cad Bane & Boba Fett's Similarities
Not only is Cade Bane similar to Boba Fett in terms of his profession, reputation, and Western influences, but he also worked for both the Hutts and Darth Sidious, similar to how Boba worked for Jabba the Hutt and Darth Vader. Where they differ is in terms of their ruthlessness.
While The Book of Boba Fett has focused on Boba's newfound morals and the value he places on respect, Bane's motivation has always been credits. After all, he has been known to kidnap children if the job requires it.
Even though fans know little about Bane's state at this point in the Star Wars timeline, due to the events of The Book of Boba Fett's latest episode, it doesn't appear that he's changed much.
Cad Bane's Galaxy of Contemporaries
In addition to Darth Sidious, Cad Bane has crossed paths with many of the galaxy's most integral characters, such as Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress, and most recently in The Bad Batch, Omega and Fennec Shand.
Omega is interesting considering she's an unmodified clone and technically Boba's sister. Since Omega has yet to be referenced in live-action, both Ahsoka and Boba Fett's partner, Fennec Shand, are some of Bane's most interesting past connections, especially since Shand sabotaged Bane's ship and left him stranded at the abandoned cloning facility on Bora Vio in The Bad Batch.
Why Cad Bane Matters to Boba Fett
According to Dave Filoni, there is a story arc that never aired where Cad Bane actually mentored a young Boba Fett, having known Jango personally. However, the mentorship didn't end well, resulting in a Western-style shootout and that signature dent in Boba's helmet.
From what Bane had to say in "Chapter 6," it appears that he's familiar with Boba Fett and his career throughout the original trilogy. Perhaps a new faceoff between the two will finally allow Filoni's unaired story to finally become a reality through a Book of Boba Fett-style flashback?
Regardless, it looks like Star Wars fans are in for a Boba Fett and Cad Bane showdown of some form due to Bane's involvement with the Pyke Syndicate; and from what audiences saw in this latest episode, the wait has been well worth it.
New episodes of The Book of Boba Fett debut on Wednesdays, exclusively on Disney+.
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