As The Book of Boba Fett episode 3 proved, there comes a time in almost any show or movie where it's immediately obvious who's directing it. Perhaps a self-cameo as a very dry-humored random character will clue the audience in to a Taika Waititi production. Or maybe Ava DuVernay fans will pick up on her penchant for stories about young women of color thrust into strange and perilous situations. Those sorts of calling cards are fascinating glimpses into the directors' minds.
So when Danny Trejo showed up on a recent episode of The Book of Boba Fett on Disney Plus, many fans likely had 1 of 2 reactions. Aside from those with a more casual TV-viewing relationship, a number probably had the immediate realization that this was a Robert Rodriguez project, since the two have been working together for many years at this point. Then there's the other group, who already knew Rodriguez was involved and was simply just waiting at that point and thinking, "finally, I was wondering when he'd put my boy Machete in there."
Trejo appears to be just as excited to be a part of Star Wars as fans were to see him appear as Boba Fett's new rancor keeper. Taking to Twitter, the veteran actor (and new addition to the Far Cry series) posted a behind-the-scenes shot of himself with Temuera Morrison (Boba Fett) and a surprisingly photogenic animatronic rancor head used for the episode. He even referenced what is arguably his most famous and beloved role in the caption. "Machete finally made it into space, Star Wars! It was great working with Temuera Morrison and others on #TheBookOfBobaFett!" wrote Trejo.
For those unfamiliar, Trejo has been a staple of Rodriguez's films for decades, and it's not just because the 2 of them enjoy each other's company. Trejo is actually Rodriguez's 2nd cousin, which makes the former's persistent cameos in the latter's movies all the more heartwarming. From family-friendly series like the Spy Kids movies (where he played the extremely not-family-friendly character Machete) all the way to The Book of Boba Fett, Trejo has been lending his talents to his relative like most people would let somebody borrow a mixing bowl. Naturally, fans seem to eat this up every time it happens, and given how much of a genuine and loved person Trejo appears to be by all accounts, it's easy to see why.
Trejo, appropriately an avid Animal Crossing player, appeared as the unnamed rancor keeper who accompanied the fearsome and misunderstood beast as part of a peace offering from Jabba the Hutt's cousins, who are simply known as "The Twins" to Boba Fett. The character spoke to Fett about how rancors, while capable of great violence, are generally gentle and loving creatures. He even offered to "imprint" this new one on Fett, ensuring it would be a loyal and committed companion to the bounty hunter-turned crime lord. Naturally, because Fett is only human, he immediately stated his intention to ride it.
There's plenty more story to tell in The Book of Boba Fett, but the inclusion of both a rancor and Trejo is probably enough to perk up the ears of many fans who were previously unsure about what to make of the series. Hopefully this is an indication of the sorts of big developments viewers can expect as it goes on. More Trejo is always a welcome addition, particularly with his cousin at the helm.
The Book of Boba Fett airs new episodes every Wednesday on Disney Plus.
Source: Danny Trejo/Twitter