Bib Fortuna

Bib Fortuna is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, first introduced in "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi" as the majordomo and right-hand man of the nefarious crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Debuting in the 1983 film, he is portrayed by actor Michael Carter and designed by makeup artist Stuart Freeborn. Fortuna is a Twi'lek male hailing from the planet Ryloth, which is known for its exploitation of the humanoid species, particularly the females being taken as slaves or dancers while the males are sometimes forced to submit to lives of crime.

Bib Fortuna is easily recognizable by his pale skin and the long, head-tails called lekku, which are typical of the Twi'lek species. These lekku are adorned with tattoos, and he also sports sharp, pointed teeth, giving him an overall menacing appearance. Fortuna is known to speak several languages, including Huttese, Basic, and his native Twi'leki, a valuable skill in the seedy underworld of the galaxy. As the right-hand man of Jabba the Hutt, Fortuna is cunning, loyal, and ruthless, adept at scheming and manipulation in order to maintain his position of power just beneath the Hutt.

Bib Fortuna's background is steeped in illegal activity and shady dealings. Serving as Jabba's majordomo, he would ensure that all of the crime lord's demands and desires were met, be it procuring smugglers and bounty hunters, overseeing illicit operations and criminal enterprises, or eliminating any perceived threats. The extent of his loyalty to Jabba was often questioned, but his resourcefulness and ability to make things happen kept him close to the Hutt's side.

Besides appearing in Return of the Jedi, Bib Fortuna is briefly seen in a deleted scene from "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" at Jabba's podrace, further establishing him as a long-standing fixture within Jabba's inner circle. In the wider canon, such as the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, Fortuna appears in a few episodes, playing minor yet crucial roles in the power struggles of the galaxy. He has also appeared in various Star Wars Legends stories, though these are no longer considered part of the official canon since Disney+'s acquisition of the franchise.

In Return of the Jedi, Bib Fortuna secures his place as a memorable villain when he denies Luke Skywalker entry to Jabba's throne room at first, although later succumbs to the Jedi's mind trick. When Jabba's Sail Barge is destroyed by Luke and his friends, it is assumed at first that Bib Fortuna perished onboard alongside other members of Jabba's court. However, "The Mandalorian" reveals that he survived the explosion, eventually taking over Jabba's palace on Tatooine and amassing his own power as a crime lord.

Bib Fortuna's surprise return in "The Mandalorian" sets up the spinoff series, "The Book of Boba Fett." Set shortly after the events of the second season of "The Mandalorian," The Book of Boba Fett shows a vengeful Boba Fett, along with his ally Fennec Shand, storming Jabba's palace, where he encounters a portly Bib Fortuna on Jabba's former throne. The notorious bounty hunter makes swift work of disposing of Bib Fortuna before claiming the throne for himself, signaling a new era of power struggles and criminal activity under Boba's rule.