Star Wars VFX Duo Neal Scanlan and Chris Corbould Hint at the Return of a Classic Villain to the Big Screen

Scanlan and CorbouldAward-winning British effects experts Neal Scanlan and Chris Corbould were speaking at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA Los Angeles) awards season Tea Party at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on Saturday when they hinted at the possible return of a classic Star Wars villain to the big screen.

 

The VFX duo hinted at the possibility that many fan favorite characters from Lucas’ original trilogy would be making a return in future Star Wars films down the line.  Interestingly, one of the characters that was mentioned by name was none other than everyone’s favorite Hutt crime boss.

 

Jabba and Han

Neal Scanlan on Jabba’s return to the big screen:

“There is a huge amount of secrecy around all of the films and we never really know exactly what the characters are until way way down the line.

“We have heard rumours of all different characters coming back and I had heard Jabba The Hutt, but to be honest I cannot confirm that one way or the other, It is certainly not on the cards quite yet.”

So, while nothing is concrete, it does seem that Jabba’s name has been floating around at Lucasfilm here lately.  Several sites, like Daily Mail, are reporting on the possibility of the old slug popping up in Episode VIII, but honestly, I just can’t wrap my head around that idea after what happened to the slimy piece of worm-ridden filth in Return of the Jedi.

 

Dead Jabba

I think it’s more likely that, if Jabba makes a comeback to the big screen, it will be via a cameo in Rogue One or in the upcoming untitled Han Solo film.  I’d say it’s almost a no-brainer that he will make an appearance in the Han Solo film, but catching wind of his possible appearance coming soon, with that film still in the very early stages of development, make it more likely I think that Scanlan was referring to a  Rogue One cameo.

 

I’m not discounting any possibility of an Episode VIII appearance, but it just seems very unlikely given prior events.  Not only was he choked to death with a chain by a bikini-clad princess, but his sail barge blew up as well.  I’m afraid all that remains of the old Hutt is his charred ashes mingled with the Tatooine sand.

 

That being said, after the use of the “Force-back” vision in The Force Awakens, Episode VIII may make further use of flashbacks in the story, giving Jabba a chance to slither into view.  So keep your eyes out for the giant gastropod in the upcoming films, but keep in mind that as of now, this is barely speculation based on an unconfirmed hint from a couple of visual effects guys.

 

It’s not as if Kathleen Kennedy spoke up and confirmed his appearance or anything, so as always with this type of rumor, take it with a grain of salt.  Stay tuned for more Star Wars rumors and news with Star Wars News Net, your Force for news.

 

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Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

Jordan Pate (Hard Case)

Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

44 thoughts on “Star Wars VFX Duo Neal Scanlan and Chris Corbould Hint at the Return of a Classic Villain to the Big Screen

  • January 11, 2016 at 6:07 pm
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    Daily Mail is synonymous with “inaccurate reporting,” so no, Jabba isn’t in Episode VIII. The idea of him showing up in a spinoff is fantastic.

  • January 11, 2016 at 6:25 pm
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    OK for the anthologies, definitely no for Ep. VIII.
    Unless Snoke is really a very skinny Hutt… Hmmm…

    • January 11, 2016 at 7:39 pm
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      Jabba + Weight Watchers = Snoke?

      • January 11, 2016 at 8:46 pm
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        The scar across his head is from a gastric bypass attempt.

  • January 11, 2016 at 6:47 pm
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    Given that it has a May 25, 2018 release date, they’ll probably be shooting the Solo flick this time next year, so I wouldn’t say it’s “still in the very early stages of development.” Pre-production is obviously underway.

    • January 11, 2016 at 6:59 pm
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      True. But that movie would still be in the concept stages as far as design goes. The VFX department has probably not been much involved yet I would imagine.

      • January 12, 2016 at 3:06 pm
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        Scanlan is in charge of the Creature Shop, so while the actual physical work hasn’t begun, I’m sure he already has some idea of what they’ll be creating. He’d be working closely with the conceptual artists.

  • January 11, 2016 at 6:54 pm
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    Han Solo, Boba Fett or Kenobi spin-offs all make a ton of sense. Let’s hope they do it right…

    • January 11, 2016 at 7:02 pm
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      not crazy about a boba fett film, but we’ll see!

      • January 11, 2016 at 8:34 pm
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        I don’t see a reason for it

        • January 11, 2016 at 11:57 pm
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          agreed. never understood the boba fett hype to the extent that it has become.. then again, i wasn’t around when the originals were released.

          • January 12, 2016 at 2:48 pm
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            I was around back then and I still think Cad Bane is a hell of a lot of cooler than Boba Fett.

          • January 13, 2016 at 3:11 am
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            cade bane is a slick mofo. george lucas knocked it out of the park with the clone wars series (except that whole droid arc…)

      • January 11, 2016 at 8:46 pm
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        He should be in the Han Solo movie along with Jabba, but he definitely doesn’t need his own movie.

    • January 11, 2016 at 8:31 pm
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      Personally I don’t think we need a Solo or Fett movie. It’s fan service IMO. To me, I much rather imagine Solo’s adventures instead of watching them cash out on the character. I just shake my head knowing someone else is playing Han Solo. Boba Fett is only getting a movie because fans made him an iconic by treating the character like royalty. I didn’t read the EU, Boba Fett was made to look like the most incompetent Bounty Hunter in the galaxy in OT.

      • January 12, 2016 at 5:39 am
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        Totally see where you are coming from dude. I think a Fett movie would be cool, but i would set it post ROTJ and have a new bounty hunter (who is a total badass) find the armour on tatooine and take up the identity and legacy of boba fett. But the only people that know he is actually not boba are the audience. Could be interesting. 🙂

  • January 11, 2016 at 7:07 pm
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    I’d like to see Sidious story

    • January 11, 2016 at 7:27 pm
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      Ya know… I never really thought about that but it could be pretty compelling. That said I’m wary of any prequel like movies featuring prominent characters.

      Still they only need to prove it’s possible once… and my doubts will be banished!

    • January 11, 2016 at 8:45 pm
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      If they did a rough adaptation of the Plagueis novel, that would be perfect. It details all of Palpatine’s story, from the time Plagueis finds him as a young adult up until Episode I.

    • January 12, 2016 at 2:45 pm
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      me too. we need it in this new canon, even if it’s a reworked version of the Plagueis story that Luceno masterfully authored.

  • January 11, 2016 at 7:12 pm
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    Maybe we’ll someday get some followup to Rotta’s story. I’m sure he’s still alive and well in the TFA timeline.

    • January 11, 2016 at 7:30 pm
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      I thought about this too…I wonder what ever happened to Jabba’s little Punky Muffin?

      • January 11, 2016 at 8:30 pm
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        I hope we’re not the only two fans who actually care to find out about Rotta.

        • January 11, 2016 at 8:50 pm
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          I think the character inspired a lot of negative feedback from fans, which is why after the film, we never heard of the little Huttlet again in CW. But an older version of the Hutt as a villain in the ST might be pretty cool (as long as Finn doesn’t get frozen in carbonite by Kylo Ren at the end of VIII and taken to Rotta’s palace on Tatooine or anything. lol.).

          • January 12, 2016 at 2:42 pm
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            maybe teenage Rotta will show up on Rebels. it’s inevitable the Ghost crew will have some interaction with Hutts at some point.

  • January 11, 2016 at 7:21 pm
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    As long as he looks like he did in JEDI and not the extremely crappy versions in SW:SE and TPM.
    Probably in the Han Solo movie where we’ll see just how Han came to be smuggling for Jabba, as if that is something I need to know.

  • January 11, 2016 at 7:24 pm
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    Vader for Rogue One. Jabba for Han Solo. Fett for… Fett? 😛

    • January 11, 2016 at 8:11 pm
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      Vader + Tarkin I’m guessing (based on a previous rumor)

    • January 11, 2016 at 8:34 pm
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      if Jabba gets to be in the Solo movie then Calrissian better have a role too

  • January 11, 2016 at 8:13 pm
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    I think it will be fine and expected in prequel movies or flashbacks, but I hope they don’t try to retcon him being dead just to fit him into the new movies. I would rather see another Hutt as the new head of the family.

    • January 11, 2016 at 10:48 pm
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      Like Niima (or a relative of her’s).

  • January 11, 2016 at 8:18 pm
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    I put this with the Snoke is Vader rumor and throw it in the trash. It makes zero sense for him to be in Episode 8.

    • January 12, 2016 at 12:33 pm
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      More than likely, it would be a new Hutt or Hutts characters who appear in Episode VIII. I could easily see such a character willing to help fund the expansion of the Resistance fighting forces, striking a deal with Leia, in order to protect his business interests against the First Order.

  • January 11, 2016 at 8:58 pm
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    I’d like to see an adolescent Han. A kid, really. Living on the streets, taken under the wing by some other scoundrel who shows him the ropes. Kind of Artful Dodger-like.

  • January 11, 2016 at 9:29 pm
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    In terms of Rogue One, Vader would have to be in it or there’ll be a fan revolt. He was in the thick of that whole galactic kerfuffle.

    • January 11, 2016 at 10:04 pm
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      Galactic Kerfuffle would be a great name for a film.

    • January 11, 2016 at 10:12 pm
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      True, he was deeply and personally invested in keeping the Death Star project safe and operational and on top of that he wanted Tarkin to respect him for that aspect of his battles. So yea, missing Vader means the movie can very well suck.

    • January 12, 2016 at 12:31 pm
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      Oh, he’ll be in Rogue One and probably significantly in this movie’s third act. Because Disney and Hasbro want to sell new Vader toys.

      • January 12, 2016 at 4:52 pm
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        And more importantly, because it’ll be an awesome opportunity to bring John Williams’ Vader theme into the forefront again and let ‘er rip.

  • January 12, 2016 at 12:34 am
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    We don’t know where they heard the rumors. Might have been online. Nothing to see here,

  • January 12, 2016 at 1:28 am
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    Two points, if for Episode VIII, and *not* for Rogue One or Han Solo….
    – reporting it as “Jabba” could have been *describing* it as “a Jabba”, ie, a generic Hutt ;
    – I’m sure there had been spy reports for TFA [via MSW, or SWNN ??] that described Leia in diplomatic audience with a Hutt Council. Perhaps, whilst plotting TFA, certain elements for EpVIII were being mapped out at the same time ?
    So there could indeed be a chance of a *Hutt* figure in VIII….

    • January 12, 2016 at 12:30 pm
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      I wondered what happened with that scene, if it was actually shot. Weren’t the rumors saying several puppeteers were on set to control all the Hutts?

      Could be a scene where Leia asks the Hutts for funding for the Resistance. This could play into Episode VIII for the Resistance to protect what remains of the Republic.

  • January 12, 2016 at 9:24 pm
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    CG Jabba has always looked awful. One character who should never have gone digital.

  • January 13, 2016 at 2:36 pm
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    Other Hutts are available.

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