Cad Bane's Star Wars History & Timeline (Boba Fett's Blue Cowboy)
Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Book of Boba Fett episode 6!
The Book of Boba Fett episode 6 features the live-action debut of a familiar blue-skinned gunslinger working for the Pyke Syndicate against the titular crime lord. While his name wasn't said in the new Star Wars series, the gunslinger's iconic look is unmistakable to fans of the animated series, being none other than the legendary Duros bounty hunter Cad Bane. Who is Cad Bane, and what is his history and connection with Boba Fett?
While Cad Bane was once known as the best bounty hunter in the galaxy following the death of Jango Fett in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Fett's son Boba would grow up to surpass Bane near the end of the Clone Wars (and on into the future). Sadly, most of their history and eventual rivalry never officially made it to Star Wars' first animated series. However, it was briefly referenced in the recent Bad Batch show. Regardless, Cad Bane is not a bounty hunter to be trifled with, especially now that the Book of Boba Fett has confirmed that he's still alive with his first live-action appearance, working with the Pykes and threatening the people of Freetown to stay out of their business and away from Lord Fett.
It looks as though The Book of Boba Fett is setting up an epic showdown and rematch between Cad Bane and Boba Fett once the Pykes launch their inevitable assault on Mos Espa. However, it would be good to learn more of Bane's secret history, seeing as how he's been missing since before the end of the Clone Wars until now in the years after the Empire's defeat. In any case, here's what is known about Cad Bane's history as well as his dynamic connections to Boba Fett.
Cad Bane is a member of the alien race known as the Duros, who all have the same large red eyes and blue-green skin as Bane does. Having developed hyperspace travel fairly early, Duros can be seen all over the galaxy in a variety of different roles. While some joined the Rebellion during the original trilogy era, there were also a known few who became Jedi (and even one who was a Sith Lord during Star Wars' early years preceding the Skywalker saga). However, Cad Bane is the most well-known Duros by far in the galaxy, operating as a brutally efficient and gunslinging bounty hunter.
While one of his first known missions was working with Aurra Sing for Darth Maul before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Cad Bane truly came onto the scene in The Clone Wars animated series, becoming one of the galaxy's best bounty hunters with a specialty for heists and taking down members of the Jedi Order. One of his most iconic jobs was breaking into the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to still a list of Force-Sensitive children for Darth Sidious, and he was also hired on multiple occasions by Count Dooku as well. Not only was he responsible for the murder of Ziro the Hutt (Jabba's uncle), but he also fought Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi multiple times in the Star Wars timeline.
While the episodes featuring Boba Fett and Cad Bane's partnership-turned-rivalry were never fully finished for The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm ultimately released some of the plots, storyboards, and even pre-vis footage with recorded dialogue. As such, Star Wars revealed that Bane would have initially taken a teenage Boba under his wing, giving him tips and bounty hunting tricks he learned from Boba's father, Jango, who had likewise tutored Bane. However, things end up taking a turn for the worse, with Boba and Bane ending up in a standoff.
Unwilling to go to the same lengths of darkness and dishonor, Boba Fett faced Bane in a gunslinger's duel where they both shot themselves in the heads at the same time. However, both survived as Boba was wearing his inherited Mandalorian armor from Jango. Even so, the shot from Bane's powerful customized blaster is what caused the classic dent in Fett's helmet. Furthermore, episodes of The Bad Batch saw Bane working with a plate covering part of his own head, teasing that the duel did happen and is a part of the Star Wars canon (even if it was never fully realized on-screen). As such, a flashback officially revealing this duel certainly feels warranted in the next episode of The Book of Boba Fett.
Another great tie to the gunslinging Duros' past Star Wars depictions is the confirmation that Cad Bane was voiced by Corey Burton in this new episode, the very same actor who voiced Bane in the animated series (along with a multitude of other roles, including Count Dooku). This is absolutely the right call on the part of showrunners Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, seeing as how Burton's voice for Bane is incredibly distinct and a core part of his character. It also helps to confirm the identity of the blue-skinned Duros as the Cad Bane (without his name ever being spoken in The Book of Boba Fett episode 6).
While one can assume that Cad Bane's primary motivation working for the Pykes on Tatooine is the payday, there's likely some personal stakes as well. It can't hurt that Bane gets to hunt down and face Boba Fett once more, the man who essentially took away his reputation as the galaxy's greatest bounty hunter heading into the original trilogy era. Additionally, The Book of Boba Fett finally has a singular antagonist who's recognizable and unique with Bane, going beyond the Pykes, who all look the same as a uniform group of spice runners. While there's still a rather large gap in Cad Bane's Star Wars history spanning nearly thirty years between Clone Wars and The Book of Boba Fett, his return with this live-action debut is truly exciting as the series sets up an epic showdown between the old bounty hunter rivals.
The Book of Boba Fett releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.