Summary
Star Warsfeatures an ever-expanding universe that always brings with it new characters and species, whether they be Jedi, Sith, rebels, or droids. However, perhaps some of the most underrated and underappreciated characters are bounty hunters, who can sometimes be even more compelling than a Jedi Knight.
With all the Star Wars media that now exists thanks to the Lucasfilm creatives, the roster of bounty hunters in a galaxy far, far away has grown, and countless new favorites have emerged for many fans. From the animated Clone Wars to the live-action films and TV shows, these are the best of the best.
Honorable Mentions: Greedo And Zam Wesell
Before getting into some of the most noteworthy bounty hunters present in the Star Wars canon, it wouldn’t feel right to leave out some more minor ones that are just as iconic.
Greedo is a Rodian bounty hunter most famous for getting blasted underneath the table in a scene with Han Solo, keeping fans guessing whether he or Han shot first. Zam Wesell is a shape-shifting Clawdite bounty hunter most famous for dying at the hands of Jango Fett in Episode 2 after a failed attempt to assassinate Padmé Amidala.
Appears In
Star Wars: Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones
Before Boba Fett, there was his father, Jango Fett, and the same actor actually plays both characters, considering Jango was up to some cloning activities with the Kaminoans. At the time leading up to the Clone Wars, Jango Fett was considered the best bounty hunter in all the galaxy.
He’s got a jetpack, Mandalorian armor, a flamethrower, a grappling hook,and a pretty iconic ship – the Slave I. You also have his DNA to thank for creating the Republic’s army of clone troopers. While he survived a brush with Obi-Wan Kenobi, he was ultimately beheaded by Jedi Master Mace Windu during the Battle of Geonosis.
The Mandalorian
Although IG-88 was the first appearance of a bounty hunter droid unit of its kind in The Empire Strikes Back, IG-11, introduced in the very first episode of The Mandalorian, is far more memorable and better utilized. This droid first teamed up with Din Djarin when tasked with a bounty to kill Grogu.
Soon, when The Mandalorian learns the target is a cute baby version of Yoda, he eliminates IG-11 due to his programming. The IG-11 droid is then rebooted to be a protector of Grogu and sacrifices himself as part of his new protocol, only to return later as IG-12 and be commemorated as a statue. The coolest part about IG-unit droids is their mechanical spinning motions with dual-wielded blasters and accuracy.
Ming-Na Wen
The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and The Bad Batch
Fennec Shand started in the Star Wars universe as a bounty hunter herself getting hunted by none other than Din Djarin. Eventually, she’s rescued by Boba Fett and becomes his partner while also allied with The Mandalorian’s cause. Her bounty hunting days are more explored, however, in The Bad Batch.
The Bad Batch shows Fennec’s role in the attempted capture of Omega, a young female clone of Boba Fett’s. She was ultimately unsuccessful against Clone Force 99 in carrying it out and turned instead to helping rescue Omega from Cad Bane, getting to face off with him in the process. Her weapon of choice is a sniper rifle.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Embo is a unique bounty hunter largely because of his disc-shaped hat that functions as a weapon and shield, almost like Kung Lao’s in Mortal Kombat, and the fact he’s voiced by Dave Filoni. Filoni is, of course, the Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm and creator of Star Wars: Rebels, Resistance, The Bad Batch, Tales of the Jedi, and Ahsoka, as well as an executive producer and director on various Star Wars projects.
Embo is an affiliate of Cad Bane, wields a bowcaster in addition to having the hat, and his species is Kyuzo (named after a character in Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai). Dave Filoni’s debut as Embo came in an episode titled ‘Bounty Hunters,’ which saw him survive an injury that allowed him to stick around for future seasons and have many more cool moments.
Alan Harris and Dee Bradley Baker
Star Wars: Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars
First appearing in The Empire Strikes Back, Bossk would later become a pivotal bounty hunter inthe Star Wars series, which includes his arcs as an animated character in The Clone Wars as well as his role in the Star Wars Rebels novel Ezra’s Gamble. The most distinct feature of Bossk is his signature yellow spacesuit and reptilian design, which is due to the fact he’s a Trandoshan.
The most significant detail about Bossk is how he’s had Boba Fett’s back since the beginning of his bounty-hunting origins with Aurra Sing up until his return to Boba Fett’s side during the events of The Empire Strikes Back. He’s one of the most loyal and honorable bounty hunters, even though his appearance and behaviors may convey otherwise.
Michonne Bourriague, Jamie King
Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Before becoming such a phenomenal addition to the roster of bounty hunters in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Aurra Sing’s first appearance was actually in Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, where she was just spectating Annakin’s podrace, and you didn’t even know her officially by name.
The Clone Wars series really demonstrates what Sing’s character is all about. The most notable aspects about her are her marksmanship,her status as a former Jedi, and the comlink antenna in her head. She’s associated with Cad Bane and also becomes somewhat of a mentor to a young Boba Fett following his father’s death.
The Book of Boba Fett
Wookies hailing from Kashyyyk made fine warriors during the Clone Wars, and some may have wanted to put those skills to use in other professions once the reign of the Galactic Empire began. That’s exactly the path Krrsantan chose, garnering notoriety as a bounty hunter and remaining loyal to the Hutt Clan after Jabba’s death.
This is a character who first appeared in the comics before ever making it into live-action, but that debut finally came in The Book of Boba Fett. Originally tasked with killing Boba Fett, Krrsantan ended up becoming an unlikely ally in Fett’s power struggle against the Pyke Syndicate, though their bond was nowhere near what was shared between Han and Chewie.
Corey Burton, Dorian Kingi
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Book of Boba Fett, and The Bad Batch
When you think of infamous Star Wars bounty hunters, Cad Bane should be one of the most unforgettable. He’s the hatted blue Duro gunslinger with beaming red eyes and a breathing apparatus, who’s known for doing the Sith Order’s bidding. Everything about his character design and portrayal is almost enough to outshine Boba Fett.
Bane is definitely one of the best new characters created for Star Wars: The Clone Wars and is always one step away from being considered a Sith himself. He returned for a story arc in The Book of Boba Fett and had an appearance in The Bad Batch, his character continuously getting built past The Clone Wars saga.
The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett
Din Djarin, otherwise known as ‘The Mandalorian’ or ‘Mando,’ is the protagonist of the first-ever Star Wars live-action TV series, The Mandalorian. He takes jobs from the Bounty Hunters Guild and quickly becomes partnered with the adorable force-sensitive youngling Grogu, who would join him for all their adventures to come.
He’s a Mandalorian foundling rescued by them during the siege of his home planet, and he’s donned the shiny silver beskar armor and followed the Way of the Mandalore ever since (except for the few times he does remove his helmet). He’s had plenty of memorable encounters and interactions, not to mention allies like Cobb Vanth, Peli Motto, Greef Karga, Ahsoka Tano, and Bo-Katan. He even got to wield the Darksaber.
Jeremy Bulloch, Jason Wingreen, Daniel Logan, Temuera Morrison
Star Wars: Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett
Boba Fett is the bounty hunter who made the Guild so iconic to Star Wars in the first place and is one of the coolest and most well-developed bounty hunters around. He was notorious for not talking much but looking formidable in his green, red, and yellow colorway Mandalorian armor, yet you also got to see him as a child in Episode 2 and Star Wars: The Clone Wars and in his own spin-off show.
Not even a fall into the Sarlacc Pit could keep Boba Fett dead, which you learn he escapes from during the opening moments of The Book of Boba Fett to go on a quest to take the Hutt throne. He’s also probably one of the most iconic villains to ever be created for Star Wars, period.Although not stronger than Darth Vader, he’s equally known for his costume.
