Star Wars: Who Is Bib Fortuna?

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Bib Fortuna is part of the wretched hive of scum and villainy that makes its home on the planet Tatooine. Such degenerate denizens seem to reflect the rough desert terrain. They’re tough, gritty, and change like the winds that propel a sandstorm. Bib Fortuna altered his alliances to support his ambitions just as the other residents did — and he also stuck it out with Jabba the Hutt as long as he needed to.

For a while, that spelled success for the tricky Twi’lek. But while fortune favors the bold, it doesn’t always favor a betrayer. Below, discover how Bib Fortuna rose to and fell from power in Star Wars™ film and television.

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Bib Fortuna first appears in Return of the Jedi

Fans first meet Bib Fortuna in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi™. He serves as majordomo to Jabba the Hutt. Whenever an outsider such as Luke Skywalker seeks audience with the crimelord, Bib Fortuna serves as a buffer between the two. Bib Fortuna gathers information from the visitor, including their identity and reason for coming to the palace. While Bib Fortuna understands multiple languages, he only relays the information to Jabba in Huttese. This is probably to exercise some level of control and superiority over the visitor. However, it’s also to follow the rule of Jabba’s court, which forbade other tongues from being spoken.

Overall, Bib Fortuna is a trusted adviser and attendee. He is deferential. Additionally, he knows how to handle his lord’s ever-shifting moods and emotional highs and lows. The majordomo is clearly patient. Yet it’s also clear he enjoys the power his position provides, because it’s Bib Fortuna who confirms or denies audience with Jabba. However, Bib Fortuna’s decision is easily influenced by a well-executed Jedi mind trick.

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He also appears briefly in The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace™ confirms that Bib Fortuna worked under Jabba the Hutt for a very long time. After all, this prequel film takes place a whole 32 years prior to A New Hope™. Jabba the Hutt and Bib Fortuna attend a podracing event together in order for the crimelord to gamble. The sport itself bores Jabba so much that he falls asleep. Thankfully, his majordomo wakes him up to announce the winner. Saving the boss’ face is all in a day’s work for Bib Fortuna, who ingratiates himself in the court with practiced humility.

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Bib Fortuna last appears in The Book of Boba Fett

We last saw Bib Fortuna on Jabba the Hutt’s skiff, far above the sarlaac pit. While the barge crashed, Bib Fortuna survived — yet his boss did not. Finally, Bib Fortuna seized the position he had schemed to claim for decades. Star Wars fans see Bib Fortuna once again in The Book of Boba Fett™, where the appointed crimelord basks in the glory of his stolen seat. He has grown complacent and overly confident in his role, daring to disrespect the infamous mercenary Boba Fett.

Well, where did all of that subtlety and consideration go? The Book of Boba Fett showcases Bib Fortuna’s true personality and motivation for all those years of service. Ultimately, however, the highly trained Boba Fett makes quick work of Bib Fortuna. Then, Boba Fett ascends the throne as Mos Espa’s Daimyo. The rest is history.

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Bib Fortuna’s role in Star Wars may have been small, but the character made a mighty impact on the fandom. So, what do you think about Bib Fortuna? Share your thoughts at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network. And as always, don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!