Disney+ is adding a slew of lesser-known Star Wars entries in April, including Boba Fett’s animated debut from the Holiday Special!
The Star Wars Holiday Special was aired on CBS in November 1979 and featured the debut of (a version) of Boba Fett. It was only aired once after it received much critical, fan, and creator criticism. To some, it’s a campy bit of near-unwatchable fun that you challenge yourself to watch every Christmas season. To others it’s an inexcusable miss step in Star Wars’ production history. It’s even a famous urban legend that George Lucas himself was quoted as wanting to personally destroy every VHS copy of the broadcast.
Lucas has rarely spoken about the Holiday Special, but he once opened up at a fan convention and famously said: “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it.”
The Guardian
Regardless there are a few highlights that come out of that ill-fated release. For one, it mentions Life Day (Wookiee Christmas) and gives us an early glimpse of Chewbacca’s homeworld, Kashyyyk. There are also celebrity cameos that are cringe-worthy enough for any healthy drinking game to be centered upon. Besides the main cast of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, and David Prowse, the special also feature the likes of Bea Arthur and Jefferson Starship.
Finally, the Special contains the first televised debut of Boba Fett in his now infamous pastel animated armor, wielding his now Mandalorian-famous Amban Phase-Pulse Rifle (grab your Nerf one here!)
It should be noted that the entire Holiday Special is not being released on Disney+, the the Boba Fett animation, The Story Of The Faithful Wookiee. It seems even Disney has a gag reflex when it comes to the Holiday Special.
Among the April Star Wars releases are other live action films like the two Ewok Films, Ewoks: The Battle For Endor, and Caravan of Courage. Then there are the two animated seasons of Ewoks and Genndy Tartakovsky‘s Clone Wars. Check out the schedule below!
Available April 2
Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
Star Wars: Clone Wars – Volume I
Star Wars: Clone Wars – Volume II
Star Wars: Ewoks (S1)
Star Wars: Ewoks (S2)
The Story Of The Faithful Wookiee
