Recently, we here at the Boba Fett Fan Club had a chance to catch up with Star Wars artist Jamie Snell and talk about a few of his past, present, and future projects. Fortunately for us, some involve a certain legendary galactic bounty hunter.
Jamie, first off thanks for talking with me! I know you're busy with various Star Wars projects, so we appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions as a Star Wars artist and fan!
It's no inconvenience. Thank you for wanting to interview me. I can always take time out to do an interview or two.
How long have you been a member of the Boba Fett Fan Club?
I have been with the BFFC since August of 2008!
When did you first see Star Wars?
When "A New Hope" first came out in theaters, a long time ago…
What affect did Star Wars have on your career as an artist?
Since first watching it, I have always drawn sci-fi or comic book related things. My Mom probably still has my drawings of the Death Star trench scenes I used to draw all the time.
Who are some of your favorite Star Wars characters to draw and why?
I love drawing armor. Troopers (clone, storm and all the varieties) and Mandos. My favorite to draw would be Boba Fett even though he hardly has any screen time. The coloring, markings, the mystery and intrigue was always the interest for me.
What are some of the art projects you have worked on for LucasFilm?
Well it started with Topps Entertainment doing the sketch cards for Star Wars and Indiana Jones, and then from there, I was asked to do stuff directly for LFL. I did some custom Mighty Muggs for the 2009 San Diego Comic Con and Make-A-Wish. I also did two pieces for the Zombie/Halloween week on StarWars.com.
What is your relationship like with the 501st, Rebel Legion and Mandalorian Mercs organizations?
Hmmm… I am more friends with the Mandalorian Mercs and far-off 501st, than anyone closer to home. I really haven't chatted or been asked by the Rebel Legion to do anything yet, even though alot of 501st ARE Rebel Legion members as well. Maybe its because I do mainly armor.
Celebration V was announced late last year, will we be seeing you there as a guest?
I hope so! I haven't booked anything yet. There are a few things that are involving that weekend. So we shall see.
What are some of your goals and dreams as an artist that you'd like to accomplish?
Well one of them was to have a print/giclée with Acme, and this year, that is happening with the 30th Anniversary Empire Strikes Back Art Collection. I would like to do something for Dark Horse and the Star Wars Universe (still working on that). Also along those lines I would love to have a figure made based on one of my characters or drawings. That would be AWESOME!
You're one of the artists involved in the Empire 30th Anniversary Artwork Collection. What can you tell us about the project and what scene are you going to be working on?
I am not allowed to show any artwork yet. When they announce when each piece comes out they will show the preliminary sketches. Each new scene will be released in story order as it appeared in the film. Since I am lower on the list, that means mine will not be out till later this year. Expect it in the fall. All I can say about my scene is that you will see Boba, maybe perhaps in a "dining room" setting.
Well Jamie thank you so much. It's always great to talk to a fellow Fett fan!
Thank you for the interview. It was my pleasure. Those were some good questions.
As recently announced at Lego's Toy Fair in February, a new version of Boba Fett's Slave I is set to be released in the fall of 2010.
The set features a new look for this version of the infamous bounty hunter's iconic ship, after having 3 previous Lego versions to date. It is also the largest of the Slave I's released thus far, boasting 573 pieces! The set comes with a new version of Lego Boba Fett, previously un-released Bossk, and a new Han Solo plus carbonite figurine.
Other sets include the Wampa Attack playset, Jedi Master Plo Koon's Jedi Starfighter, and General Grievous' Bellebub fighter. To check out more Legos coming to stores soon, visit the official Star Wars page.
As of February 18, 2010, a life-size bust of the legendary bounty hunter is available for pre-order. Priced at $800, it is definitely one of the more pricey Fett collectibles to be added to our bounty databanks. The bust weighs in at 35 pounds and stands 30 inches high.
Before its release, Sideshow released a teaser video for the bust featuring the statue and scenes from the films:
Sideshow Collectibles is proud to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back with the Boba Fett Life-size Bust. Created in conjunction with Spectral Motion effects house, the Boba Fett Life-size Bust has been meticulously sculpted to capture every detail of the Mandalorian's iconic helmet. Each piece is individually painted and hand-finished, each with its own unique quality and detail that is the trademark of a handcrafted Sideshow Collectibles product. Complete with real fabric cape, the Boba Fett Life-size Bust is sure to become the premier addition to any Star Wars display.
This is not the first high-end piece of Fett merchandise to come from Sideshow. They also have a bronze statuette, toys, and several paintings available for purchase. Check out our bounty section for more information.
BFFC just got a tip from fan Peter G. about the RebelScum.com's post regarding a clue for Boba Fett making his way into the Clone Wars animated series:
Justin L. pointed out that the young Boba Fett character shown on the Speed Stars packaging at Toy Fair 2010 looked like a young Boba Fett. After further research I think its safe to say that baby boy Boba is indeed ready to make an appearance on the animated television series, The Clone Wars. When will it happen? That's another story, but with product being shown that will be released prior to season three, my guess is sometime between now and the end of season two. We did just bump into some Mandalorians in the series, remember?
(via Rebelscum.com – photo taken at Toy Fair 2010)
Remember the Darth Vader helmet project a few years ago, to help raise donations for charity? Well, this year the 501st is doing the TK Project, which is a Stormtrooper helmet theme for Star Wars Celebration 5 and giving them out to some fairly famous Star Wars folks to paint up.
I'd seen some of the helmets already painted and sent back, but this was the one I was waiting to see. They gave one to Jeremy Bulloch to paint and it came back in record time.
In a press release from Hasbro, in step with the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, there will be a mail-away Boba Fett figure.
The mysterious Boba Fett played a key role in the original STAR WARS trilogy, firmly establishing him as a favorite villain for generations of fans. … Additionally fans are also encouraged to collect five of the marked figures in the new vintage lineup to send away for their very own “Rocket Firing” BOBA FETT action figure, identically styled after the 1980 mail-away figure.
The original "rocket firing" Boba Fett never was mailed out because it was deemed dangerous for children. Only a few prototypes were made.
More recently, there was a Boba Fett figure made with a giant rocket firing contraption on its back, which is apparently not a danger for poking your eye out.
Shown at the UK Toy Expo, Hasbro will be releasing a kid-sized helmet with some canned sounds. "I'm Boba Fett, you may have heard of me," is one of five phrases spoken by the toy.
See starwars.com for the pictures, but credit goes to jedinews.co.uk for taking them in the first place.
Jokes from the actor aside, part one of the three-episode story begins at 9:00pm (Eastern and Pacific) this Friday, January 29th on the Cartoon Network. Actor Jon Favreau voices Pre Vizsla, a Mandalorian in the storyline for episode "The Mandalore Plot."
[Favreau's] involvement in The Clone Wars came as an indirect result of post-production for the first Iron Man film; he was working with Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound when his path crossed with [Supervising Director Dave] Filoni’s at Lucasfilm’s Skywalker Ranch.
“I had mentioned that I would love to do a voice, and that I’d done voices before – and the idea for me to play a Mandalorian came up. I wasn’t holding out for a cool character, but I think the Mandalorians are probably the ones that the die-hards are going to be the most curious about,” says Favreau.
“I grew up a fan of Star Wars. It was the first time I had ever experienced that really iconic, mythic archetypal storytelling. What’s fun about Star Wars is that it still has as much relevance and impact now as it did then. It seems to be a set of characters and a world that is timeless, and every generation seems to embrace. So it’s fun to be able to share with my family and my kids the excitement that I had when I was young.”
The Mandalorians are coming up in the next episode of the animated Star Wars: Clone Wars series.
But, it appears, these aren't the same Mandalorians. In fact, Karen Traviss, the author who took the original stories — starting in vintage Marvel comics and developed further by Andy Mangels until the drastic changes in Episode II — allegedly quit over related issues.
On the StarWars.com blog, regarding the upcoming Star Wars Insider #115 cover story, some fan comments to note:
FettFan1861: "Mandalorian pacifists??? Who is the idiot that came up with that crap? Wipe out all of Traviss's work for a cartoon and make the greatest warriors in the SWU into a bunch of pacifists? Just when you dont think LA [LucasArts] can get any worse they pull a stunt like this. All I can say is wow…"
Rax-Nibune: "I hope that the episode truly explains the Mandolorians culture and history; As the word Mandolorian never actually made it into any of the movies and I feel although Mandos have been good in the EU, its high time they get the proper representation on the main screen."
dakota66: "I hope so too. No wonder Karen Traviss stopped doing Star Wars novels, because the MANDOS are coming to the CLONE WARS."
delta_commando: "I really hope the Clone Wars depicts the Mandalorians as how we've read about them in the comics and the books."
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