James Mangold says his rejected Boba Fett movie was a “borderline minor” spaghetti western that “scared the hell out of everyone”

‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Fate’ director James Mangold is already planning a reunion with Lucasfilm on an upcoming ‘Star Wars’ original film. But it won’t mark his first time writing screenplays set in a galaxy far, far away.

Mangold had already tried to develop a Boba Fett spin-off film that would take the franchise in a dramatically different direction than what ultimately materialized in ‘The Book of Boba Fett’. In a new appearance on Happy Sad ConfusedMangold recalled writing a script that would push the boundaries of what’s acceptable in the “Star Wars” universe.

“At the time I was doing that I was probably scaring the hell out of everyone,” Mangold said. “I was making a lot more of a spaghetti western that was borderline minor. They probably never would have been able to hug Baby Yoda if I had. It really didn’t belong in the world I was imagining.

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The director lamented that his plans for the film were eventually abandoned after Lucasfilm focused on television.

“In a time of corporate realignment or whatever happened with the Han Solo movie, they suddenly decided they weren’t making movies like that, and streaming opportunities presented themselves,” he said. “I listened to Ennio Morricone all day, all night, and typed. I’m not sure that would ever happen. Not sure if it was anyone’s plan, what I was thinking.

While making a “Star Wars” movie would be a daunting challenge for any filmmaker, Mangold is no stranger to playing in large sandboxes. In a recent interview with IndieWire’s Anne Thompson, he recalled overcoming his initial hesitation about directing “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Fate” because he wanted to work with his heroes.

“I have looked up to all these amazing potential collaborators my whole life. And despite the warning signs that this type of film was a bear to handle and to cast, and expectations would go all directions, and not all of them would ever be met, what was most appealing was the personal opportunity to work with Harrison, Steven, Kathy, George and John Williams,” he said. “It was impossible to say ‘no’ to what was essentially the personal opportunity of a lifetime because you never get close to people unless you do something together.”