The reception to The Book of Boba Fett thus far has been lukewarm, at best. While the recently released "Chapter 5" is reigniting a spark for the fandom, general impressions on Lord Fett's main narrative indicate that people were hoping for more. With two episodes left, there's every chance that the remainder of Season 1 can deliver, but the tide is already beginning to shift in unexpected ways.
Warning - The rest of this article contains spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett.
Boba Fett's latest episode is titled "Chapter 5 - Return of The Mandalorian," giving no false impressions of what the story entails. In a somewhat shocking turn of events, the episode didn't feature Boba Fett in any capacity, and only dropped the titular character's name once at the tail-end. The credits humorously gave Temuera Morrison top billing for his extensive work in the "Previously On" intro, but the episode itself was all Din Djarin's.
Fans were elated when hints of The Mandalorian's theme were heard at the end of "Chapter 4," but the assumption had been that Mando would be serving as more of a cameo in The Book of Boba Fett as opposed to what now appears to be a starring role. After being enlisted by Fennec Shand to aid in Fett's upcoming conflict against the Pykes, Djarin informs the Master Assassin that he has a quick visit to make first.
The obvious assumption is that Mando will be traveling to check in on Grogu before taking part in Fett's war, delivering the gift that The Armorer forged as well. Grogu was last seen being taken under the protection of Luke Skywalker to learn the ways of the Jedi, and a new rumor suggests the original Star Wars hero could be set to make a return.
Luke Skywalker Rumored to Appear in Book of Boba Fett
Cinelinx shared word that Luke Skywalker will be appearing alongside Grogu in The Book of Boba Fett.
The Jedi Master's return could come as early as next week's "Chapter 6," as Mando will be visiting his former charge and then returning to Tatooine for the conflict to come.
Return of the Jedi
Luke Skywalker's appearance in The Mandalorian Season 2's finale was stunning, an occasion so momentous it brought fans worldwide to tears. Mark Hamill had the opportunity to reprise the role as the version of the character that he knew, a gift that will continue to give for generations.
When Din Djarin first appears in "Chapter 5," he's in a somewhat dark place. Mando has returned to his bounty hunting work in order to locate his old covert, but he's burdened by the responsibility of the Darksaber and struggles to wield the blade. The Armorer attempts to drill into him the idea that he's fighting himself rather than his opponent, but he's promptly excommunicated for having removed his helmet.
It's clear that Din is still reeling from the loss of Grogu. While letting The Child go was for the greater good, the pair had formed a father and son relationship - an attachment that had eluded Mando since the loss of his own parents during the Clone Wars. Between the gift forged of beskar and his longing stare at the stars, it couldn't be more obvious that missing his kid has Din distracted, which would be the primary reason he's struggling with the Darksaber.
A reunion with Grogu now appears to be in order and sooner than many expected. Luke Skywalker would naturally be with the young Jedi, so the best guess is that Mando will be traveling to the new Temple to meet with the pair.
One of the biggest questions is how Luke's return will be pulled off. While Hamill was used for the role in The Mandalorian and de-aged via deepfake technology, with a body double used for the stunt work, whether that's a sustainable method has undoubtedly been considered. There are some who wish to see the role recast, with Sebastian Stan being the popular candidate, while others prefer that the original star continue to play Luke for as long as he's willing.
Given that Lucasfilm hired a talented deepfake artist fairly recently, it's likely that the role once again goes to Mark Hamill. With Indiana Jones 5 reportedly deploying deepfake techniques to de-age the titular character for an extended sequence, another question can be raised: will Harrison Ford be appearing in The Book of Boba Fett as well?
Rumors have indicated that Han Solo may be in the series, and Ford could conceivably be de-aged for the role. Could fans be in for the Luke and Han reunion they didn't get in the sequel trilogy? Moreover, will little Ben Solo be present as well, perhaps already befriending Grogu?
It's doubtful that Luke will serve any more than a cameo role before Mando returns to Tatooine, but it could be a significant appearance nonetheless. There's a backseat on Din's new starfighter that seems tailor-made for Grogu, and eventually, the two of them will be roaming the galaxy together again. Whether that happens before or after the war with the Pykes remains to be seen.
Fans can see the potential returns of iconic friends as The Book of Boba Fett drops new episodes on Wednesdays on Disney+.
