The Notorious Bounty Hunter, Boba Fett

1. BOBA FETT'S 15-MINUTES OF FAME Most people believe that Boba Fett will indeed play a major role in Episode II. Whether he will be a powerful leader of the Mandalorian Warriors or just a commmon soldier amongst their ranks is anyone's guess at the moment. Some even say that Fett never was a Mandalorian at all. Hence the saying: "He wears the armour of the Mandalorian Warriors"/and not "He WAS one of the Mandalorians"...

Perhaps Vader's admonition to Fett in "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back", "But I want them alive! NO DISINTEGRATIONS!" is a key? Did the Mandalorians use disintegration rays in combat? In any case, just who is this mysterious man under the modified Mandalorian helmet? Will we ever find out? Some rumours say it is Anakin's boyhood best friend Kitster. If so, then why are they so formal with each other in "Empire Strikes Back" as if they have never met? Can't Vader sense him?

Christopher Lee as Count Dooku a.k.a. Darth Tyranus

2. NEW CHARACTERS Christopher Lee will play Count Dooku, an evil Jedi who splits from the Jedi ranks and sides with Darth Sidious. It is rumored that his given Sith name will be Darth Tyranus. In the alleged words of Lucas: "Darth Maul had to die in Episode 1 because I was planning to introduce Count Dooku as the new Sith Lord apprentice in Episode 2."

The leader of the Mandalorians will be an evil character named Jango Fett. It is rumored that he will fight a duel with Mace Windu in which he dies. George Lucas states: "Jango Fett is an interesting character. However, he decides to fight Mace Windu and the result is predictable. Jango might think he is a formidable bounty hunter, but he is no match for Mace Windu, who is one of the top Jedi Knights in the galaxy. The arrogance of Jango is ultimately his undoing." Will Jango be cloned?

Jango Fett Mandalorian

3. DARK REVELATIONS
According to the August release of CINESCAPE Magazine, The Mandalorian Warriors will occupy Anakin's home world of Tatooine. Could they be responsible for the death of Shmi Skywalker, and ultimately Anakin's turn to the Dark-Side of the Force?

In "Episode IV: A New Hope" Luke needed to view for himself the dead remains of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru before he was determined to follow Ben Kenobi to Alderaan. Could Anakin need a similar personal tragedy to set him upon the path of his destiny in this episode?

4. MACE WINDU There is reason to believe that Samuel L. Jackson's character, Jedi Master Mace Windu, will play a much larger role in this episode, perhaps filling in Qui-Gon Jinn's role of father figure to the two young Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan and Anakin.

5. SENATOR PALPATINE/DARTH SIDIOUS It is probable that Senator Palpatine will approach Anakin at some point during this episode and begin to lure him over to the dark side, (perhaps very subtely at first). In this episode, it is critical that the audience become better acquainted with this character, and his evil intentions should be revealed. 'The Phantom' of The Phantom Menace was too transparent! Let us finally "see" the arch-vilian so that we (as the audience) can truly hate him!

If Anakin and Obi-Wan are beginning to have slight tensions in their relationship by the close of Episode II, then surely it must have much to do with the sinister wisperings and persuadings of the dark master.

We can also safely surmise in this episode that Palpatine will continue on his strategic climb of power to take over the government of the galaxy. Will he reveal his true identity to the Galactic Senate yet? I'm not certain if he will be behind the Mandalorian's threat or not? Does he HAVE to neccessarily be behind EVERY bad thing that happens in the Star Wars Galaxy ... I mean, how believable is THAT?

6. BAIL ORGANA
Most likely Senator Bail Organa, of Alderaan, will appear a great deal in Episode II, and give us a good introduction to this character. He will play a major role in Episode III, and in the beginning origins of the Rebel Alliance.

7. VANISHING ACT
Why doesn't Qui-Gon Jinn vanish when fatally struck by Darth Maul at the end of "Episode I:The Phantom Menace"? Most of you are arguing that Vader did indeed vanish and just his armour remains for Luke to burn in the funeral pyre on Endor at the end of "Return of the Jedi". There's no way of knowing for sure, but we do see Luke dragging an obviously heavy body (or bodysuit) up the ramp and into his Imperial Shuttle. Lucas has been rumored to say the explanation can be gleaned from Obi-Wan's threat to Vader in "Episode IV: A New Hope":
"If you strike me down Darth, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine".

Perhaps only a true Jedi Master dissolves upon his/or her deathbed? Or maybe the answer lies in the fact that Qui-Gon and Anakin weren't "holy" enough, or "pure" enough? Perhaps Qui-Gon's rebellious defiance and Anakin's impatience and pride were still obstacles that they each needed to overcome before they died?

It can also be claimed that Obi-Wan and Yoda both laid down their lives as quasi-suicidal sacrifices and accepted death as imminent and prepared themselves for it, whereas Qui-Gon and Anakin died unknowingly? Someone has emailed me a pretty intellegent explanation that maybe Yoda and Obi-Wan transferred some of their being into Luke and that is how they can talk to him and he can see them after death. Perhaps Qui-Gon just didn't have time, or the ability, to transfer his soul into Obi-Wan's body? Will we see Qui-Gon's ghost talking to Anakin in future episodes as we saw Obi-Wan's talking to Luke? Did Vader vanish? Only time (and George Lucas himself) can tell