Jeremy Bulloch memorably portrayed bounty hunter Boba Fett in the 1980 Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, but that wasn’t the only character he played. In fact, Bulloch subsequently served as an Imperial Officer in the film. It’s likely that fans would be more familiar with the fictional character of Boba Fett compared to the actor behind the helmet. Here’s why Bulloch served in as an additional character and how he had a Star Wars future down the line.
Prior to his time working on the Star Wars franchise, Bulloch already had decades of acting credits under his belt. The actor’s half-brother Robert Watts worked on Empire Strikes Back and was tasked with finding someone to play Boba Fett. The suit fit Bulloch so he agreed to play the part for the film. Boba Fett had minimal screentime but became a fan favorite, giving him an opportunity to reappear in Return of the Jedi. Bulloch may have worn the suit but Jason Wingreen provided the voice of the character before Temuera Morrison replaced the dialogue to better connect with the prequels.
In addition to Boba Fett, Bulloch played Lieutenant Sheckil in Empire Strikes Back. Sheckil accompanied Darth Vader when the Empire tried to seize Cloud City and lure Luke Skywalker into a trap. Bulloch was the Imperial Officer who grabbed Princess Leia in the corridor when she tried to warn Luke about Vader’s motives. The actor never intended to play the second character, but the actor hired was a no show so Bulloch stepped in. The role may have been minor but it was his first direct, non-masked appearance in the franchise but it wouldn’t be his last.
Jeremy Bulloch Played A Third Star Wars Character In The Prequel Trilogy
Bulloch reprised his role as Boba Fett for 1983’s Return of the Jedi, the film that saw the character seemingly die when he fell into the mouth of the Sarlacc. The actor turned to TV roles for a bit before returning to the world of Star Wars 22 years after Return of the Jedi. Bulloch made a cameo appearance in the third installment of the prequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. He played the role of Captain Jeremoch Colton, a pilot from Alderaan who took Obi-Wan Kenobi, Bail Organa, and Yoda to Coruscant. This was the first and last appearance of the character in the franchise.
Aside from working on Star Wars fan films, Bulloch hasn’t appeared in any of the movies in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The actor has expressed interest in reprising his past roles or working again on a future film in the franchise. If Boba Fett ever comes back into focus in some kind of film or Disney+ series, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Bulloch involved in some capacity.
Next: The Clone Wars Almost Told Boba Fett’s Epic Origin Story: Why Is Star Wars Saving It?
