In Attack of the Clones, we all remember the epic Geonosis battle and the Clone Army’s explosive debut.
But did anyone else wonder why Jango Fett threw himself into the chaos instead of staying back?
Mace Windu was pinned down by super battle droids, and Jango had no immediate threat. So, why did he jump into danger?
His impulsive move to challenge a Jedi Master head-on might be rooted in his loyalty to Dooku and a fatal underestimation of Windu’s skill, especially after previously besting Jedi Coleman Trebor.
Table of Contents
1. Jango’s Confidence Bordering on Arrogance
By the time of Attack of the Clones, Jango Fett was a renowned—some might say legendary—bounty hunter.
His skills are undeniable. As he enters the battle on Geonosis, to Jango, this feels like any other fight he’s handled before.
Just days prior, he battled Obi-Wan on Kamino, and if you remember that encounter, Jango completely outplayed Obi-Wan with his gadgets and tools, leaving the Jedi almost defeated.
So, when he saw Mace Windu leap into the fray, Jango likely thought, “I took on a Jedi just a few days ago—this’ll be the same.”
Even before Mace Windu stepped in, Jango Fett had already taken down Jedi Master Coleman Trebor on his own.
With all his experience facing the Jedi, Jango Fett was likely overconfident when it came to confronting Windu.
And when Windu held his lightsaber to Jango’s neck, perhaps Jango saw it as a sign of disrespect—an action that only fueled his determination to go head-to-head with the Jedi Master.
This confidence, however, was likely his downfall. It blurred the line between caution and arrogance, leading him to believe that no Jedi, not even Mace Windu, was beyond his reach.
2. Mace Windu Was Already Aware of Jango Fett’s Threat
When Obi-Wan traveled to Kamino and uncovered the truth about the Clone Troopers, he immediately reported back to the Jedi Council.
Mace Windu and Yoda received this intel directly, including Obi-Wan’s suspicion that Jango Fett might be the one hired to assassinate Queen Amidala.
As a Jedi Master, Mace Windu would have had every reason to investigate Jango’s background and assess the potential threat he posed.
So, when Mace Windu arrived on Geonosis and approached Dooku with Jango by his side, his choice was telling.
Instead of pointing his lightsaber at Dooku, Windu aimed it at Jango, fully aware that Jango was the more immediate threat at that moment.
Mace Windu’s perspective on Jango Fett is vividly depicted in Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover.
Windu senses the danger radiating from Jango, recognizing him as a lethal threat. In the novel, Stover provides detailed insight into Windu’s thoughts as he faces Jango Fett:
“Jango Fett bristles with weapons. An instinctive killer: the deadliest man in the galaxy. Jango can kill me in less than a second. I know it. Even if I had never seen Kenobi’s report from Kamino, I can feel the violence Jango radiates: in the Force, a pulsar of death.”
3. A Deadly Miscalculation: Jango Fett Realizes Mace Windu is Different
In the final moments, Jango Fett realizes too late that he’s played the wrong card. As Windu leaps down into the arena, Jango tries to gain the upper hand by using his flamethrower, momentarily throwing Windu off balance.
But as Windu lands, he’s immediately attacked by a creature called the Reek, which charges at him and knocks his lightsaber out of reach.
Seeing Windu distracted by the Reek, Jango jumps into the arena, hoping to seize the advantage.
However, just as he moves in, the Reek unexpectedly turns its attention toward him, forcing Jango to deal with the creature first.
After managing to take down the Reek, Jango turns back—only to see Windu charging straight at him.
Jango fires his blasters relentlessly, but as Windu closes in, Jango attempts to escape by activating his jetpack.
In a tragic twist, however, his jetpack fails to ignite properly, and in that vulnerable moment, Mace Windu delivers the fatal blow.