The Mandalorian season 3 subtly paid tribute to Jeremy Bulloch, the actor who physically portrayed Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy. Despite the character’s limited role in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Boba Fett became a Star Wars icon. The mystery behind the helmet and the character’s Mandalorian armor, as well as his intimidating demeanor, spawned hundreds of fan theories and pivotal pieces of Star Wars lore. Without Boba Fett’s memorable appearance, the Mandalorians would arguably never have become a central part of the Star Wars mythos.

Though Boba Fett first appeared in animation, Jeremy Bulloch’s stoic and daunting presence helped sell the audience on the character. Sadly, the English actor passed away in December 2020, but that didn’t stop The Mandalorian’s cast and crew from paying tribute to the character and the actor with a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter eggs. One particular Easter egg in The Mandalorian’s season 3 premiere created a fun parallel to one of Boba Fett’s most essential scenes in Return of the Jedi.

Din Djarin’s Pirate Standoff Evokes Boba Fett In Jabba’s Palace

In The Mandalorian season 3, episode 1, “Chapter 17: The Apostate,” Din Djarin visits High Magistrate Greef Karga on a wholly revamped and renovated Nevarro. Nevarro’s progress doesn’t suit everyone, however, and soon enough, a group of pirates arrives, intent on disturbing the peace and hassling innocent bystanders. Karga goes to reason with them, and Din goes with him as a backup. In the scene, there’s a brief moment where Din leans against a tree, his presence and posture aloof yet menacing at the same time.

Brendan Wayne, one of the three actors who bring Din Djarin to life in The Mandalorian, has since confirmed that the scene in which Din leans against the tree and watches the pirates’ spectacle unfold was an intentional parallel to Boba Fett’s presence at Jabba’s Palace in Return of the Jedi. In both scenes, the Mandalorian bounty hunters act reserved but are primed and ready to strike as soon as the action kicks off. Boba works to prevent Leia’s rescue of Han, and Din gets embroiled in the scuffle against Vane and the other pirates.

This Is Just One Of Many Tributes To The Original Boba Fett

That scene isn’t the only Easter egg referencing Jeremy Bulloch’s role in the Star Wars franchise. In The Mandalorian season 3, episode 5, “Chapter 21: The Pirate,” Greef Karga offers the Mandalorians who helped defeat Gorian Shard and his followers the chance to settle on the land between Nevarro’s Western lava flats and “Bulloch Canyon.” It’s a nice way of paying tribute to the actor – it recognizes Boba Fett’s and Bulloch’s role in the creation of a show like The Mandalorian without hindering the flow of the story.

Though Bulloch’s role may have been limited to a physical presence – Jason Wingreen originally voiced the character in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, though his performance was later altered to fit Temuera Morrison’s voice following Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – he still made a massive impact. Without Boba Fett’s enduring popularity, the Mandalorians never would have become such a central pillar of the Star Wars franchise, and The Mandalorian as a show probably wouldn’t exist either.