It was around this time last year that The Mandalorian Season 2 approached its highly anticipated debut, and the Disney+ project delivered in every sense of the term.
Following Mando's riveting adventure with Cobb Vanth, Tusken Raiders, and a krayt dragon, The Mandalorian "Chapter 9 - The Marshall" closed out with a finishing shot of Boba Fett surveying Tatooine's sands and the twin suns.
What came next was the ultimate dream for Star Wars fans; as Season 2 progressed, Mando and Grogu made alliances with Bo-Katan Kryze and Ahsoka Tano, defeated Moff Gideon (at least, temporarily), and were rescued by Luke Skywalker. But it was Boba Fett's climactic return that truly changed the tide of the season, as well as the events for the rest of the stories in the narrative to come.
Fett and Mando made acquaintances on Tython when the former arrived in the Slave I to retrieve his lost armor in "Chapter 14 - The Tragedy". The duo not only forged an honorable pact to save Grogu, but Fett restored his father's armor to its former glory - while putting every feature to good use in the process.
Season 2 ended with a stinger announcing The Book of Boba Fett, coming in December. A poster was recently released that shared the first look at the titular character, now serving as a crime lord, in his updated get-up on a throne. Word on the rapidly approaching series has been quiet since, but a new picture may be the next of what promises to be an onslaught of marketing on the horizon...
New Boba Fett Promo Image Revealed
In celebration of Lucasfilm's 50th anniversary and the release of The Book of Boba Fett, the official Star Wars website pulled back the curtain on "Bring Home the Bounty," a merchandising effort that will see the release of products from the galaxy far, far away's past, present, and future.
Much like last year's "Mando Monday" push, "Bring Home the Bounty" will be a weekly onslaught of new announcements for Star Wars products based on all projects in the franchise's history - including the forthcoming The Book of Boba Fett.
Among the promo images on the website's page was a new art piece of Boba Fett, donning his recently reacquired armor and black undergarment. The visual can be seen below:
Is The Art Specifically For The Book of Boba Fett?
The various promo images for "Bring Home the Bounty" have been used before - except one.
Darth Vader's menacing pose is featured on the packaging of several products, most notably merchandise exclusive to Disney parks and stores. Chewbacca is in a piece of art crafted for The Last Jedi's marketing campaign, while Wrecker is a simple character profile pic used on posters for The Bad Batch.
Mando and Grogu's designs have been on products ranging from posters to puzzles and even mugs. But the Boba Fett image is new. Much like the poster released a few weeks back, there are changes to Fett's armor in the art that weren't present in the character's last appearance from The Mandalorian.
Most notably, the new crime lord's helmet is sporting a slash down the side, taking a healthy rip out of what was once a slick new paint job. Additionally, the scarf around his neck appears to be less pronounced than it was in The Mandalorian, when it was effectively just a hood pulled down for added dramatic effect. Unfortunately, the new piece of art doesn't give a look at Fett's armor below the torso.
In The Book of Boba Fett's release date poster, it appears that the former bounty hunter has ditched the robe he wore in The Mandalorian, leaving more of his leg armor and boots exposed. With that being the case, the Boba Kilt is likely no more, and the action sequences teased by series executives should be all the better for it.
Between the similarities to the latest poster and the background being Tatooine, with a slight hint of Jabba's Palace in the corner, it stands to reason that this art is exclusive for The Book of Boba Fett - and likely the first of many like it.
With the series' premiere just over two months away, the marketing campaign should get into full swing any time now.
At this point, a full trailer probably won't come until November 12 when Disney Plus Day hits, giving Lucasfilm the opportunity to make their big splash a month before the winter show debuts. However, there remains the off chance that something comes in the next few weeks before then; there are, of course, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor to promote as well, along with any new series announcements, and a Boba Fett trailer may be buried beneath the rest of the excitement.
Fans should expect an Entertainment Weekly cover story for The Book of Boba Fett to arrive any time now also. The feature for The Mandalorian Season 2 dropped about two months ahead of the season's debut, which would be right about...now, for Boba Fett. The EW stories have been a staple for Disney Star Wars projects since The Force Awakens, and new images and quotes from those involved with the series can be expected.
After the trailer drops, the floodgates will open for TV spots to dominate screens worldwide until the end of December comes along. No NFL game, deal on Shark Tank, or sappy sob story from The Bachelorette will stand in the way of the great Boba Fett as he makes his way through the universe.
As for the rest of the wait? Keep a close eye on "Bring Home the Bounty"... there's sure to be several new products revealed in the weeks to come that will give fans a better idea of what to expect when the galaxy's newest crime lord makes his return.
The Book of Boba Fett debuts on Disney+ on December 29, 2021.
