For a sand-ridden Outer Rim planet, Tatooine has been the epicenter of some of the most important events in the Star Wars galaxy. Although far removed from the bustling Galactic Core, the desert planet has played a role in the rise and fall of empires, both criminal and political.
As The Book of Boba Fett moves closer, fans are likely to learn some new details about Tatooine, as the famed bounty hunter looks to take control of Jabba the Hutt's former crime syndicate from his imposing palace in the Dune Sea. While that bit of lore is yet to be revealed, there are plenty of canon events leading up to planet's latest chapter.
Anakin's Path to the Jedi (and to the Sith) Started on Tatooine
Arguably Tatooine's most important contribution is its role as Anakin Skywalker's home world, and the site of some of his most pivotal moments, on his way to becoming Darth Vader. Born with an unimaginably high Midi-chlorian count, the current canon explanation around Anakin's fatherless conception has been relegated to that of a mystery. As a slave on Tatooine, Anakin eventually was rescued by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and taken to Coruscant to be trained as a Jedi.
Years later, in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Anakin returned to Tatooine one final time to rescue his mother, kidnapped by Tusken Raiders. When she died a captive, Anakin experienced unbridled rage, ferociously slaughtering the entire camp of men, women and children. This loss of his mother and loss of control over his anger was a huge stepping stone in his eventual fall to the Dark Side.
Darth Maul Met His End on Tatooine
Darth Maul himself had two major milestones on Tatooine, beginning in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Coinciding with Anakin's departure from the planet, Maul, the Sith apprentice of Palpatine, tracked the Jedi Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Kenobi to the planet, fighting his first lightsaber duel with Qui-Gon (and almost hitting a young Anakin with his speeder). That initial fight led to the Duel of the Fates on Naboo, where he killed Qui-Gon and was cut in half by Obi-Wan, kicking off his next few decades of obsession with "Kenobi."
Eventually, that obsession led him back to Tatooine, where an older Obi-Wan was living out his post-Order 66 days watching over Anakin's son, Luke. And it was on Tatooine that Darth Maul's saga came full circle. He was finally defeated by Obi-Wan and died with a modicum of peace knowing there might yet be hope for Palpatine's downfall.
Luke Skywalker's Journey Began on Tatooine, Too
Unbeknownst to Anakin (as the newly minted Darth Vader), he indeed had two children: the famous Luke and Leia. The twins were split up to protect them, with Luke being sent to live a very Skywalker life, being raised by his aunt and uncle on Tatooine itself. Under the protective eye of Kenobi, Luke grew up safe and free, until the day the Empire came to Tatooine. Of course, Luke was the first and most recognizable hero in Star Wars, so having Tatooine as his home planet, by blood and by upbringing, is a hugely pivotal event.
Upon the deaths of Luke and Leia Skywalker in the sequel trilogy, Rey, the newest parallel iteration of Luke's archetypal character, made the journey herself to Tatooine. There, in the very sands where the entire Skywalker saga began, she symbolically buried the lightsabers of the twins. At this point, she also adopted the Skywalker moniker herself for the first time, further solidifying the planet's role in the storied family legacy.
The Hutt Crime Syndicate Was Based on Tatooine
The Hutts have long been notorious for running crime syndicates throughout the galaxy, but the fame of Jabba the Hutt is unmatched. From his palace on Tatooine, Jabba heralded over criminal doings from the prequel era up until Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, when he was finally killed by a newly-returned Luke Skywalker. But in his heyday, Jabba had a hand in podracing, smuggling, gambling, tax rackets and almost any other iteration of organized crime on Tatooine, even employing Han Solo for a bit.
It was his connection to Han, though, that ultimately led to his death on the desert planet. During a rescue mission orchestrated by Luke and Leia, Jabba was finally killed by Leia. The event of his death also sparked another infamous Tatooine occurrence: bounty hunter Boba Fett's fall and assumed death in the Sarlacc Pit. Learning how Boba Fett ultimately survived and escaped a presumed inescapable fate will be another meaningful milestone in the sand planet's history.
The Krayt Dragon United Settlers and Tusken Raiders
Though the galaxy certainly has its fair share of fearsome and unusual creatures, the Krayt Dragon of Tatooine was an intergalactic cryptid of almost mythical importance. While making a pit stop to Tatooine with his Force-sensitive foundling, Grogu, the Mandalorian Din Djarin became embroiled in a sequence of events leading up to him killing the large reptile. Though unwilling at first, his eventual wild west showdown with the creature led to some unexpectedly important consequences. From this sprung the first-ever official declaration of peace between Tatooine settlements and the nomadic Tusken Raiders. This event also led to Djarin acquiring the Mandalorian armor of Boba Fett himself, whose own reclamation of that armor will once again pave the way for more historical happenings of note on Tatooine.