Let’s be real for a second. When you think of a Star Wars fat character, your brain probably goes straight to Jabba the Hutt. It’s the obvious choice. Jabba is basically a giant, space-faring slug made of gluttony and crime. He’s iconic, sure, but he also represents a weird trend in George Lucas’s universe where being larger-than-life usually means being a villain, a joke, or a background alien with three seconds of screen time. It’s a trope that’s been around since 1977, and honestly, it’s high time we looked at how the franchise handles body diversity—or the lack thereof.
The galaxy is massive. We have thousands of planets, millions of species, and yet, for the longest time, the heroes all looked like they just walked out of a high-intensity interval training session on Coruscant.
But things are changing. Slowly.
The Jabba Problem and the Villain Trope
Jabba Desilijic Tiure is the gold standard for the Star Wars fat character. Introduced (properly) in Return of the Jedi, he was a marvel of practical effects. It took half a dozen puppeteers to make him blink, drool, and swallow frogs. But from a narrative standpoint, Jabba is the "Gluttonous Overlord." His weight is a visual shorthand for his greed. He doesn't move; he makes others move for him. He is the antithesis of the "active" hero.
This isn't just a Jabba thing, though. Look at Baron Papanoida (played by George Lucas himself in a cameo) or some of the background senators. Often, a larger frame in Star Wars has been used to signal decadence or corruption. It’s a bit lazy, right? If you’re a kingpin or a corrupt politician, the character design usually leans into being "rotund."
Then you have characters like Unkar Plutt in The Force Awakens. Simon Pegg went through a lot of discomfort in that suit to play the junk boss of Jakku. Plutt is another example of the "unpleasant" larger character. He’s stingy, he’s mean, and he’s physically imposing in a way that’s meant to feel gross to the audience. He’s not a hero. He’s an obstacle.
More Than Just Monsters
It's not all bad, though. We’ve had some exceptions that break the mold, even if they don't get the same amount of toy sales as Boba Fett. Take Porkins. Good old Jek Tono Porkins.
Porkins is a legend. During the Battle of Yavin, he was right there in his X-wing, Red Six, taking on the Death Star. Yeah, he died, but he died a hero's death. For decades, Porkins was the go-to reference for a Star Wars fat character who actually did something cool. He wasn't a crime lord. He was a pilot. He had "staying power," as Biggs Darklighter put it, right until his ship malfunctioned. Fans love Porkins because he felt like a regular guy who happened to be a rebel ace.
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Representation in the High Republic and Modern Canon
If you step away from the movies and look at the books and comics, especially the High Republic era, the descriptions of characters get a lot more diverse. Writers like Justina Ireland and Daniel José Older have been great about describing Jedi and Republic citizens with varying body types. It makes the world feel lived-in. In a galaxy with gravity-defying ships and literal magic, it makes zero sense for every single person to have the same BMI.
The Mandalorian and the "Mando-verse" on Disney+ have also started to broaden the horizons.
Think about the characters we see in the background of Nevarro or the various space ports. We are seeing more "average" bodies. We’re seeing people who look like they actually eat the blue macarons and roast gorg that we see on screen.
Dexter Jettster: The Four-Armed Chef
We have to talk about Dex. Dexter Jettster is probably the most "lovable" Star Wars fat character in the prequel era. He’s a Besalisk who runs a diner on Coruscant. He’s got four arms, a greasy apron, and a huge heart. Dex is important because he’s a source of wisdom for Obi-Wan Kenobi. He’s not a villain. He’s a guy with a colorful past—he mentions prospecting on Subterrel—and he’s clearly lived a full life.
Dexter Jettster proves that you can have a character who is large and stationary (behind a counter) without them being a caricature of greed. He’s just a guy running a business who happens to know a lot about Kaminoan saberdarts.
Why This Actually Matters for the Fandom
People want to see themselves in the stories they love. It’s that simple. When every hero is a shredded warrior, it sends a message that only certain types of people can save the galaxy.
But Star Wars is at its best when it’s about the "everyman" rising up. That was the whole point of the Rebellion. It was a ragtag group of farmers, mechanics, and smugglers. If that group only consists of people who look like fitness models, it loses that "ragtag" charm.
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The Physicality of the Role
One of the hurdles often cited is the physicality of Star Wars roles. Being a Jedi involves stunts, wirework, and heavy choreography. But look at someone like Sammo Hung or even Jack Black. Physicality isn't limited by size. You can be a larger person and still be incredibly agile or a formidable fighter.
In the Star Wars: Rebels animated series, we have Zeb Orrelios. While he’s an alien (a Lasat), his design is bulky and powerful. He’s the "muscle," but he’s also agile. He climbs, he jumps, and he fights. This kind of "power-lifting" build is a great way to incorporate different body types while maintaining the action-hero vibe the franchise demands.
Notable Examples of Body Diversity
To really understand the landscape of the Star Wars fat character, you have to look at the fringe.
- Gamorrean Guards: These guys are the classic "heavies." They are pig-like, green, and muscular-fat. They are almost always portrayed as dim-witted muscle for hire.
- Azmorigan: Seen in Star Wars Rebels, he’s a Jablogian merchant. Again, he fits the "greedy/cowardly" trope perfectly. He’s large, loud, and generally a nuisance to the crew of the Ghost.
- The Seventh Sister/The Inquisitors: While most are lean, the Ninth Sister (introduced in the Jedi: Fallen Order game) is a massive Dowutin. She’s an absolute tank. She’s one of the best examples of a larger character who is legitimately terrifying because of her strength and presence, rather than being a joke.
- Doctor Aphra's associates: In the comics, we see a much wider range of body types. The comic medium allows for artists to experiment more than a costume department with a limited budget might.
Breaking the Mold: The Future
What’s the next step? Honestly, it’s about casting and character design that doesn't make size a personality trait.
Imagine a lead character—a Jedi or a rogue—who has a larger build, and it’s never mentioned. They aren't the "funny one." They aren't the "hungry one." They are just the character. That’s where true representation happens. When the body type is just a fact of life rather than a narrative shorthand for something else.
We are seeing hints of this in the newer games and some of the live-action series. The background actors in Andor felt incredibly real. They looked like people you’d see on a bus or in a factory. That groundedness is what makes Andor so good, and part of that is the visual diversity of the people inhabiting the world.
Real Expert Insights on Character Design
Concept artists like Terryl Whitlatch (who worked on The Phantom Menace) have often talked about how anatomy informs character. In her book The Wildlife of Star Wars, she explores how different creatures' bodies evolve based on their environment. This same logic should apply to the sentient beings. A character from a high-gravity world would naturally be built differently than someone from a low-gravity moon.
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By leaning into the "science" of science fiction, Star Wars can move past tropes and into a more authentic representation of what a galaxy-spanning civilization would actually look like.
Moving Toward Actionable Change
If you’re a creator, a cosplayer, or just a fan, there are ways to engage with this. Support the media that gets it right. When a book or a comic introduces a character that breaks the mold, let the publishers know you appreciate it.
For cosplayers, the "Porkins" or "Dex" costumes are always hits at conventions because they represent characters with personality. But you don't have to be limited by what's on screen. The "Original Character" (OC) community in Star Wars is huge. Creating your own Star Wars fat character who is a badass bounty hunter or a scholarly archivist is a great way to push the boundaries of the universe.
What to Look for Next
Keep an eye on the upcoming Acolyte series or future seasons of The Mandalorian. Pay attention to the background and the secondary leads. We’re in an era of Star Wars where the "unseen" stories are being told. Hopefully, those stories include a wider variety of people.
- Check out the High Republic novels: These are currently the gold standard for diverse character descriptions.
- Watch the background in Andor: It’s a masterclass in realistic world-building.
- Support fan artists: Many artists are reimagining the Star Wars aesthetic to be more inclusive, and their work is often more creative than the official concept art.
The galaxy is big enough for everyone. Whether you’re a skinny kid from Tatooine or a big-hearted chef on Coruscant, there’s a place for you among the stars. It’s just a matter of making sure the cameras point in the right direction.
Stop looking at Jabba as the only blueprint. Look at the rebels, the pilots, and the everyday citizens. That's where the real story is.