Jabba the Hutt

Jabba the Hutt (in English, Jabba the Hutt) is a fictional character from the Star Wars series. He first appeared in the movie Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) as a giant, slug-like alien, although he was later digitally introduced in the special edition of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope made in 1997 and in the first film of the prequel trilogy Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, released in 1999. He was originally portrayed by a huge latex puppet, the work of Toby Philpott, but in other films it was recreated by computer (CGI). In addition to the movies, Jabba appears in Star Wars literature and comics.

The character's role in Star Wars is primarily that of an antagonist. He is a Hutt around 600 years old who has Bib Fortuna as his right arm. Jabba is the head of an organization that employs a coterie of criminals, bounty hunters, smugglers, assassins, and bodyguards operating under his criminal empire. Jabba the Hutt's palace, located on the desert planet of Tatooine, is a former monastery for a group of mystics known as the B'omarr monks. In it he keeps his cast of artists, slaves, androids, and alien creatures that are at his beck and call. Jabba has a rather dark sense of humor, a warlike laugh, an insatiable appetite, as well as affinities for gambling, torturing, and collecting slaves.

The character was introduced in the Star Wars marketing campaign for the theatrical release of Return of the Jedi. Jabba's image has since played an important role in popular culture, particularly in the United States. His name is used as a satirical-literary device and as a political caricature to denigrate the negative qualities of his obese and morbid corruption.

History and description

This is a being of the Hutt species, born on Nal Hutta. To the naked eye it is a huge worm over three meters long with a sticky tongue and rather poor manners. He was a crime lord and ran a vast criminal empire throughout the galaxy. For more than half a century, Bib Fortuna served as his faithful butler and lived in a palace on the planet Tatooine. When he arrived on that planet, the palace was already built, it was the temple of a sect of B'ommar monks who studied force in a very particular way. The brain was removed and deposited in a jar, which in turn was on mechanical legs that allowed them to move. Hutt physiology makes him incorruptible to Force hypnotism, this being the case in Luke's attempt to free Leia and Han.

Jabba Desilijic Tiure was traveling on his sailing barge to Mos Espa, the capital port for podracing. There he watched the races from his private box and made bets with other crime lords like his sister, Gardulla the Hutt.

During the Clone Wars he was a good servant of the Republic and on one occasion was invaded by forces of the Confederacy, and Master Yoda himself defended the temple with him, which would later collapse when Dooku and Assajj Ventress arrived and stole it to his son. After that, Boorka the Hutt launched a smear campaign against the fat criminal, and he gradually lost authority in the galaxy. As the years passed, Jabba made money again, becoming Tatooine's most esteemed Hutt again, and made deals with the Republic and with Jedi Master Echuu-Sen Jon, who later assassinated Boorka and destroyed his temple. In such a way, "assured" Tatooine, which soon after would be invaded by General Grievous and Dooku's apprentice, Sev Rance' Tann.

Battle with Han Solo

Years later, Han Solo worked for Jabba and had some trouble with him. Due to an Imperial boarding of Solo's ship, Solo had to launch his contraband into space, causing Jabba serious losses. Jabba forgave him on the condition that Solo pay him an extra sum. As the payment never came, Jabba put a price on Han Solo's head and later, after freezing him in suspended animation inside a block of carbonite, he was taken by Boba Fett to the crime lord's palace.

In Jabba's palace on Tatooine there were all sorts of strange beings who were often just looking for lodging but others were spies or just trying to kill Jabba. Among the "people" Jabba's trusted trustees were: Ephant Mon, Saelt-Marae, Barada and Bib Fortuna.

An elaborate rescue operation took place on Tatooine, where the rebels managed to rescue Solo and Princess Leia herself strangled Jabba with the chain that held her. The sailing barge exploded, taking many of Jabba's guests and Skiff Guards with it.

Creation and inspiration

Jabba was conceived by filmmaker George Lucas to feature in Return of the Jedi. Lucas envisioned Jabba as a kind of sultan surrounded by a cohort of servants and with a lot of power and influence. Toby Philpott built a full-scale Jabba puppet that was manipulated simultaneously by three puppeteers.

Impact on popular culture

Since his appearance in Richard Marquand's 1983 film, Jabba the Hutt has enjoyed great popularity, appearing numerous times in the expanded universe. It was also the central axis of the novel published by Bantam Books entitled: Star Wars: Tales from Jabba's Palace. Likewise, it has appeared in different Star Wars as: Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Star Wars: Jabba the Hutt. Betrayal or Star Wars: Boba Fett. When the fat woman hangs up. In 1987, the famous comedian Mel Brooks in his film Spaceballs —translated in Spain as: The crazy story of the galaxies— parodied Jabba's character as a gigantic talking pizza called Pizza the Hutt and was eaten by one of his henchmen. In the United States, Jabba the Hutt's name has been used to criticize wrongdoing in American politics and even, bad eating behaviors.

Future of the character

Disney, the current owner of the Star Wars franchise, announced in spring 2017 that the third spin off could be about the character of Jabba the Hutt and William del Toro could be its director, according to an interview that the director gave to the British newspaper The Independent. /i> would focus on the adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi, once again being played by the Scottish actor, Ewan McGregor.