Star Wars characters who won’t get their own spin-off but should: Lobot
Disney has confirmed that the spin-offs from its planned Star Wars trilogy will be ‘origin’ stories. You know, like Batman Begins, but with lightsabers. A host of the series key characters are being lined up to get their own spin-off movie, with the likes of Yoda, Han Solo and Boba Fett topping the bill. But what about those unsung Star Wars heroes, the guys who appear one moment in the first six movies and are Bantha fodder the next?
Wouldn’t you like to see one of those guys get their own spin-off? We know we would. In Part 2 of our six-part series, we look at the best baldie from The Empire Strikes Back…
Name: Lobot
Occupation: Lando Calrissian’s aide
Seen in: The Empire Strikes Back
Features: Bald with the coolest set of headgear this side of the galaxy far, far away. Striking
Dialogue: Pffft. Who needs to use words when you can communicate with a central computer?
Notable contributions: Points at guards when Lando welcomes Han Solo to Cloud City; glances menacingly to his right at Lando; leads some Stormtroopers in to ensnare Rebels; receives message from Lando’s watch and then helps Rebels escape Stormtroopers. He’s a human iPhone, basically
Origins: You might think of him as a walking metal detector, but Lobot had a troubled childhood which would be ripe for a standalone spin-off. He was born the son of a slave trader, but dad was killed by pirates when he was still a teenager. A short life of petty followed after he ended up in Bespin, where he was convicted of stealing. However, some community service turned his life around, even if it wasn’t exactly turning up to do gardening at the local Cloud City youth centre. Instead, the authorities decided to make good use of old Lobot, drilling holes in his head and fitting him with a Biotech Aj^6 cyborg headband (you can get them in Argos, I think), which allows him to communicate with the city’s main computer.
Actor: In The Empire Strikes Back, Lobot was played by John Hollis, who knew a thing or two about space portrayals, having been one of the Elders of Krypton in the Superman movies, while also appearing in Flash Gordon. He also played an uncredited Blofeld in For Your Eyes Only – due to rights issues over the character of James Bond’s famous arch-enemy, he couldn’t be named.
Potential spin-off: A tearjerking rags to glitches drama covering his life story, with a few dance numbers thrown in maybe…
Ross v Ross 
September 20, 2013 at 5:36 am
I’d watch it.