Star Wars is making a big comeback in 2015. After being acquired by Disney, Lucasfilm has begun launching a Star Wars shared universe to rival their Marvel cousin, starting with the successful Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, which will be in theaters holiday season 2015.

But after Episode VII has come and gone - and before Boba Fett origin film in 2017. In the case of the latter, it's clear that Lucasfilm has no plans of letting the Boba Fett character fall out of popularity - as the studio's president is making abundantly clear.

In speaking with Kotaku, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy had the following to say about Boba Fett's place in the emerging Star Wars shared universe:

Kotaku: In yesterday’s kick-off meeting, you joked that Jar-Jar does not come back. On that note, will Boba Fett come back? Also, is there a possibility of Ewok re-appearance?

Kennedy: Don’t worry: Boba Fett is a high priority among our list, please wait. But seeing how the Ewoks could return is a little harder to imagine. It is quite difficult to give the many stars of Star Wars their own stories on film.

Boba Fett needs little introduction, as the bounty hunter from Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi has grown beyond the Star Wars OT, becoming a glorified icon all his own. Aside from having his origin tale chronicled in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (or his formative years chronicled in the prequels spinoff, the Clone Wars animated series), Boba Fett is one of the biggest faces of Star Wars when it comes to merchandising - no doubt why LucasFilm feels confident about having this particular Star Wars character lead his own film.

was recently dropped the project. Right now a replacement director has yet to be announced, but the description of the film as an origin story raises certain questions.

Clone Wars followed the young child version of Boba after his father, Jango Fett, was slain by Mace Windu (Sam L. Jackson) in Episode II: Attack of the Clones. He became a violent and ruthless young terrorist/bounty hunter, striking at The Republic and Mace Windu on several occasions. Last seen he was in the company of other bounty hunters, including his friend Bossk, the unruly reptilian bounty hunter from Trandosha.

Since Clone Wars is considered official canon in the Star Wars universe, this anthology film (if indeed set in the past), would fill the gap between the young bounty hunter we saw in Clone Wars, and the infamous hunter wearing custom Mandalorian armor that we meet in Empire Strikes Back. Hardcore fans surely hope that a Boba Fett movie blows the Star Wars underworld and bounty hunter world wide open, in much the way Suicide Squad are doing for the X-Men and DC movie universes (respectively).

And it almost goes without saying: appearances by Clone Wars icon Cad Bane is a MUST.

The question still remains whether or not Jengo Fett actor Temuera Morrison would be required to headline the Boba Fett movie; after all, Boba is just a naturally-grown (i.e. not tampered with) clone of Jango - so the looks would need to be similar. A young enough version of the character could require a new actor - but the choices would be limited to those in close enough proximity to Morrison (suggestions?).

As always, there are those touting the "Sarlacc Pit Theory" that says Fett survived being devoured by the monster in Return of the Jedi, leading to the character existing in the Episode VII era (or at least after Episode VI). This seems a bit more far-fetched however; the "Star Wars Anthology" sub-set exists for a reason: nostalgia more than newness. But do you Star Wars fans want more of the old, or more of the new, or a mix of both?

For more on what Kathleen Kennedy and Force Awakens actress Daisy Ridley have to say about the new film, check out the full interview on Star Wars 7 News (as translated from Kotaku).

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters December 18, 2015; Star Wars: Rogue One on December 16, 2016; and Star Wars: Episode VIII (subtitle TBD) on May 26th, 2017. We'll keep you updated on development for the Boba Fett origin movie.

Sources: Kotaku, Star Wars 7 News

Header image by BAKART @ DeviantArt