Caution: spoilers ahead for The Book of Boba Fett episode 6
These are the preexisting Star Wars characters you might’ve spotted returning in The Book of Boba Fett episode 6. After four straight episodes of solid Boba action, Disney+’s The Book of Boba Fett shook up the formula with its fifth installment. Switching one Mandalorian for another, Boba took a back seat while attention shifted wholly toward Din Djarin instead. Only in episode 5’s final scene do the characters’ paths dovetail, when Fennec Shand requests Djarin’s help with Tatooine’s Pyke problem. Instead of resuming normal service, however, The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 goes even further off the beaten track.
“From The Desert Comes A Stranger” connects all corners of the Star Wars mythos, spotlighting characters whose relevance to Boba Fett ranges from tenuous to non-existent. Some hail from the main Star Wars movies, others began as animation creations, and a select few debuted on Disney+. Some cameos in The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 are impossible to miss; others might require a slight memory jog.
The following can appear anywhere in Star Wars canon, and sit anywhere on the spectrum of significance, but episode 6 must be their opening gambit as far as The Book of Boba Fett is concerned. Here are all the familiar faces stealing Boba Fett’s thunder in “From The Desert Comes A Stranger.”
Cobb Vanth (The Mandalorian)
Cobb Vanth arrives to kick open the forbidden door of the Star Wars franchise, firing the starting gun on The Book of Boba Fett episode 6’s cameo craziness. Played by Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood), Vanth debuted in The Mandalorian season 2’s “The Marshal,” but was based upon the character originally depicted in Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath novel. Following the Empire’s downfall, Vanth fortuitously acquired Boba Fett’s armor (which we now know was removed from his body by Jawas), and appointed himself Marshal of Mos Pelgo in an attempt to restore order in the isolated Tatooine township. He and Din Djarin helped slay a Krayt Dragon in The Mandalorian, the price for which was Boba’s armor.
In The Book of Boba Fett episode 6, we discover Cobb Vanth is still the local sheriff of Freetown (formerly Mos Pelgo), even though he no longer has beskar armor covering his vitals. Vanth is the de facto leader of his people, and even employs a (fairly useless) deputy, but Olyphant’s Star Wars future looks uncertain when the final credits roll on The Book of Boba Fett episode 6. Cobb Vanth is downed by a blaster bolt, and his condition isn’t confirmed. The locals rushing around his body do, mercifully, imply that Vanth’s injury is curable.
R2-D2 (Star Wars)
Since Return of the Jedi, R2-D2 has remained a faithful companion to Luke Skywalker, accompanying the Jedi on all kinds of dangerous missions. The iconic astromech droid has featured in a litany of Star Wars releases – including all nine main movies – but his most recent outing came during The Mandalorian season 2’s finale, when the galaxy’s most important droid joined his master in recruiting Grogu. It’s no surprise, then, to see R2-D2 greeting Din Djarin when he arrives on Luke’s Jedi academy planet. Reading between the beeps and whoops, R2 seemingly wants to let Djarin and Grogu see each other, but knows Luke wouldn’t be happy. So he tells Mando to take a ticket, then duly shuts himself down to avoid any awkward questions. Classic R2.
From here, we know R2-D2 continues to help Luke Skywalker develop his Jedi academy, as the droid is present in the aftermath of Kylo Ren’s rampage. Luke then abandons his metal friend until their reunion in The Last Jedi.
Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
A few optimistic Star Wars fans might’ve been vaguely hoping for a Luke Skywalker cameo in The Book of Boba Fett, but even they wouldn’t have expected the Jedi to feature so prominently, virtually getting an episode to himself with “From The Desert Comes A Stranger.” Since meeting Grogu in The Mandalorian season 2, Luke has set about building his New Republic Jedi academy at an unspecified location (possibly Ajan Kloss, but that’s speculative). While he teaches Grogu the basics of Force-sensitivity, R2-D2 supervises a team of ant droids to build a “great school” that’ll form the foundation of a new Jedi Order. It’s highly likely this is the same building Kylo Ren destroys in The Last Jedi‘s flashback sequences.
In The Book of Boba Fett, Luke Skywalker imparts many of Yoda’s old teachings onto his new padawan, but shades of the Jedi’s folly peek through. Not only does Luke train Grogu somewhat harshly, forcing the youngster to choose between his Jedi and Mandalorian heritage is plain brutal. It’s hardly surprising this fledgling academy is doomed to fail.
In The Mandalorian, Luke Skywalker was played physically on set by Mark Hamill, but given a digital makeover to recreate the Jedi’s youthful appearance. The results were mixed, but Luke’s CGI is hugely improved in The Book of Boba Fett. Mark Hamill is credited, meaning the Star Wars legend likely provided the basis for Luke once again, but Scott Lang serves as Hamill’s stunt double, and Graham Hamilton is listed as Luke’s “performance artist.” The source of Luke’s voice is less clear. Either the dialogue is synthesized digitally (as in The Mandalorian), or Hamill spoke the lines, but his voice was heavily edited.
Grogu (The Mandalorian)
Like all good things in life, Grogu is a comforting presence whether he’s in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, or slapped onto a million pieces of Disney merchandise. Debuting in The Mandalorian‘s very first episode, Grogu’s egg-eating antics and cute gurgles have made the tiny Jedi a pop culture phenomenon, and his endearingly precocious attitude is more or less unchanged by Luke Skywalker’s training. The Book of Boba Fett offers a glimpse of Grogu’s trauma from the Jedi Temple Massacre (though still doesn’t address how he survived), and Luke helps his green student to “remember” the Force-jump technique.
More interesting is how The Book of Boba Fett sets up Grogu’s future. Luke’s choice between Mandalorian armor and Yoda’s lightsaber goes unanswered, but the show’s foreshadowing works both ways. Din Djarin’s new ship includes a little Grogu-sized compartment, meaning he’ll almost certainly join Mando again in The Mandalorian season 3. On the other hand, Grogu is obviously developing a very strong attraction to lightsabers. Maybe he’ll choose the armor, then steal the green blade anyway?
Ahsoka Tano (The Clone Wars)
Next comes Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano. The animated incarnation of Ahsoka first starred alongside Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, evolving from fan irritant to fan-favorite over the course of seven seasons. Ahsoka then returned in Star Wars Rebels, but it wasn’t until The Mandalorian season 2’s “The Jedi” that Anakin’s former student transitioned into live-action via Dawson. Shortly after, Lucasfilm confirmed an Ahsoka solo series was in development, and her surprise cameo in The Book of Boba Fett bridges the gap between shows nicely.
Ahsoka may have only dropped by to check on Grogu and Luke Skywalker, but Star Wars fans have been waiting years to see Anakin’s padawan finally meet his son. Not only are they two of the last Jedi still alive, few can understand the man behind Darth Vader quite like Ahsoka and Luke, creating a unique bond between them. Interestingly, there’s a sense of familiarity that suggests Luke Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano might’ve met before. By the end of The Book of Boba Fett episode 6, Ahsoka has left Luke for business of her own. This tees up her Star Wars solo series, hunting down Thrawn and looking for her missing friend, Ezra Bridger.
Mos Pelgo’s Weequay Bartender (The Mandalorian)
Maybe not the most earth-shattering cameo in The Book of Boba Fett, but Mos Pelgo’s Weequay barman returns from The Mandalorian season 2. Initially debuting alongside Cobb Vath, the character is portrayed by W. Earl Brown, and is still pouring tasty alcoholic beverages in The Book of Boba Fett – this time with added dragon bones on the premises. The determined look on the Weequay’s face after Cobb Vanth gets shot suggests we’ll be seeing him again before long.
Jo (The Mandalorian)
Another returnee from The Mandalorian season 2’s “The Marshal” is Jo – a resident of Mos Pelgo, and a friend of Cobb Vanth’s. She helped during the Krayt dragon operation, and rushes to Vanth’s side after he collapses to the ground. Star Wars‘ Jo is played by Karisma Gideon.
Cad Bane (The Clone Wars)
As if Cobb Vanth, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Grogu, and Ahsoka Tano wasn’t enough for one 45-minute installment, Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau give Star Wars fans their first glimpse of a live-action Cad Bane. The greatest bounty hunter in the galaxy (after Jango Fett dies, at least), Cad Bane debuted in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and even became something of a mentor to an orphaned Boba Fett. Bane next appeared in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, hired by Lama Su to bring Omega back to the Kaminoans. Though his actions throughout much of the original trilogy remain unknown, Cad Bane makes a glorious comeback in The Book of Boba Fett episode 6, working on behalf of the Pyke syndicate. As Boba Fett’s crusade against Tatooine’s spice runners continues, expect him and Cad Bane to throw down in a clash of mentor and student.
Having played the character in his animated form, Corey Burton once again voices Cad Bane in The Book of Boba Fett. Dorian Kingi is credited as Bane’s performance artist, but the bounty hunter is largely a digital creation.
The Book of Boba Fett concludes Wednesday on Disney+.
