Spoiler Warning: The Book of Boba Fett Season 1It’s almost impossible to believe that Star Wars is only half a decade away from being 50 years old when it seems like just yesterday that fans were introduced to Han Solo, Princess Leia, and the immortal Luke Skywalker in what would become a worldwide phenomenon. George Lucas may have never meant to expand his universe past the masterpiece that is the original trilogy. Still, audiences fell so in love with Jedi, lightsabers, and The Force that the Star Wars universe inevitably grew larger and larger, introducing fans to countless unforgettable characters from a galaxy far, far away.
One such character – the merciless bounty-hunter Cad Bane – has captivated audiences from the second he appeared on-screen, winning fans over with his grizzly voice and lightning-quick trigger finger. The blue alien is known as one of the deadliest and most dangerous beings in the galaxy (even among Jedi and Sith) and has made appearances in three separate Star Wars television shows (Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, The Book of Boba Fett). However, despite the universal love he receives from Star Wars fans, the cold-blooded killer has never received his own stand-alone project, and here’s why that needs to change ASAP.
Cad Bane: A History (and Future?) in Anime
Disney+
As stated, Cad Bane hasn’t made an appearance in the originals, prequels, or sequels, nor has he even made an appearance in the Star Wars stand-alone films, Rogue One or Solo. So what exactly is his claim to fame? All of the credit goes to The Clone Wars anime series that (chronologically) took place in-between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. While the series mostly revolves around Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka Tano, the bounty-hunter Cad Bane makes several appearances throughout the first few seasons, premiering during the season one finale.
RELATED: Why Shifting to The Mandalorian Arc in The Book of Boba Fett Was Genius
The anime does an excellent job of capturing Bane’s ruthlessness and effectiveness with his ability to not just take on any job but hold his own against any opponent. In fact, there are several times during his appearances that Cad openly confronts or attacks Jedi due to the large bounties that would be rewarded for capturing them. Even after The Clone Wars series ended, Cad Bane was so iconic that he was brought back in 2021 for the Disney+ series The Bad Batch, another anime series.
With all of this in mind, it only makes sense that Cad should get his own anime. The character has become so renowned among Star Wars fans that they’ve accepted that Cad is a horrible being who only cares about who will pay him the biggest purse. He’s just the unequivocal best at it (and is so awesome while doing it), so fans forgive him. No matter what character is on-screen, fans immediately become worried for them if Cad Bane decides to enter the frame. That’s his reputation throughout the entire Star Wars galaxy. So, with how beloved the character is in all of his anime appearances, and seeing as how anime is where the character built his illustrious reputation, it only makes sense that he should get his own anime series. Or, at the very least, an hour-long special.
Cad Bane: A History (and Future?) in Live-Action
Despite gaining prominence through anime projects, Star Wars fans were rewarded with a surprise treat in the sixth episode of The Book of Boba Fett when Cad Bane (voiced by Corey Burton, portrayed by Dorian Kingi) finally made his live-action debut. The deadly bounty hunter strode out of the Tattooine desert, made his intentions of working for the Syndicate crystal clear, and stuck around just long enough to make fans livid at (what they considered) his untimely demise. Now, audiences have good reason to be mad that a character as prolific as Cad Bane was basically given a glorified cameo in a series that already had plenty of cameos to go around. However, any true fan of Star Wars knows that it’s highly unlikely that this will be the last we see of live-action Cad Bane.
RELATED: Every Star Wars Animated Character Introduced to Live-Action (& Others We Want to See)
With the character barely appearing for one full episode of The Book of Boba Fett, it’s pretty much a given that Cad Bane’s presence was meant to be more of a tease than anything else, especially since there weren’t many fans that were “satisfied” with his fate. So, with his Book of Boba Fett fate being pretty close-ended, that leaves Star Wars with the option of trying to slip a live-action Cad Bane into other future projects, such as the upcoming Obi-Wan series or the Rogue Squadron movie set to hit theaters in 2023, that chronologically take place before his demise. Either that, or Star Wars could give the fans what they want and have Cad Bane helm his own live-action series.
It was hinted at in The Book of Boba Fett that Bane and Boba have a history together, and a canceled story-arc from The Clone Wars series gives further details about how Bane actually mentored a young Boba in the ways of bounty-hunting. With such an admired character that has now made both anime and live-action appearances, there’s really no excuse for Star Wars not to give Cad Bane his own stand-alone project.
