The Hutts are an alien species in the ''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
'' franchise. They are rotund, voracious and grotesque-looking slug-like creatures with a predisposition to being
leaders in
organized crime. The most famous Hutt and the first to be depicted was
Jabba the Hutt in the films ''
Return of the Jedi'', the
Special Edition
The terms special edition, limited edition, and variants such as deluxe edition, or collector's edition, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints, r ...
release of
''A New Hope'' (in a formerly-
deleted scene modified and re-inserted into the film), and
''The Phantom Menace''. Jabba and numerous other Hutts appear in various works of the
''Star Wars'' expanded universe, which greatly elaborates on their history, culture and role in galactic society.
Portrayal in the ''Star Wars'' universe
Appearances
A Hutt first appeared in the film ''
Return of the Jedi'' (1983), and was designed by
Phil Tippett.
Jabba the Hutt is a crime lord that keeps an imprisoned
Han Solo as a trophy. Only mentioned in the original releases of the first two Star Wars films, he reappeared in a
deleted scene that was completed for the
Special Edition of ''A New Hope'' in 1997. In ''The Phantom Menace'' (1999), Jabba appears alongside Gardulla the Hutt, the prior owner of main character
Anakin Skywalker
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
and his mother,
Shmi. She is explained as having lost them while betting on a
podrace with junk dealer
Watto, and reappeared in ''
The Clone Wars'' episode "
Hunt for Ziro". Jabba's infant son Rotta is featured in
''The Clone Wars'' film; other Hutts feature in the series. The Twins referred to a Hutt brother and sister who were crime lords during the New Republic Era. They were cousins of Tatooine crime lord Jabba.
Ecology
Adult Hutts are similar to shell-less
gastropods in appearance and movement. In the novelization of ''
Return of the Jedi'', it is mentioned that Hutts were born
bipedal, but their "rump legs" fused together over time due to lack of movement. Hutts are extremely
long-lived and reproduce
asexually, nursing their young in pouches like those of
marsupials. Hutts have separate sexes in canon, no longer being hermaphroditic as they were in the Legends continuity. According to Legends, all members of the species are
hermaphroditic.
Economy
Hutt Space
Hutt Space is a "special autonomous region" of the ''Star Wars'' galaxy on the border between the Mid Rim and the Outer Rim Territories, and located to the galactic east of the Core Worlds. It encompassed the Si'Klaata Cluster, bordered on the Tion Hegemony, and consisted of a thousand inhabited worlds. Hutt Space was named for the Hutt species, who dominated the region.
Hutt Space remain freed of Imperial rule owing to its trade of wealth, influence and cooperation with the authorities on Imperial Coruscant. Noted as being a haven of corruption, piracy, and home to the disreputable elements of the galaxy, the Galactic Empire considered Hutt Space an "open festering wound" carved across Imperial space.
Hutt Cartel
The Hutt Cartel was a loose confederation of criminal families, mercenary elements, and front organizations. The Hutt Cartel were financially invested in every illicit enterprise in the Outer Rim; engaged in spice smuggling, slavery, gambling, extortion, and bounty hunting. The nature of this consortium prohibited any strong central authority.
Culture
Nal Hutta
Hutts live on the planet
Nal Hutta—"Glorious Jewel" in Huttese. Nal Hutta is the capital of Hutt Space, the species'
empire. The primary moon of Nal Hutta is Nar Shaddaa. Before the establishment of the
Old Republic, the Hutts were the dominant species in the galaxy, although they never built up an extensive empire; their dominance focused instead on trade and economic empires.
Grand Hutt Council
The Grand Hutt Council is the ''
de facto'' ruling body of the Hutt species, and by extension, the highest authority in all of Hutt-controlled space. The Council was composed of the most influential and high-profile Hutt leaders, its members were responsible for the day-to-day affairs of Hutt Space. When dealing with a foreign power, they elect one of their own to act as 'Head of State'. Despite pretense of legitimacy, its
kleptocratic "government" reflected the corrupt nature of its enterprises, being prone to instability as Hutt families engage in endless shadow wars against their rivals.
Huttese language
The Hutts' native language,
Huttese, is a ''
lingua franca
A lingua franca (; ; for plurals see ), also known as a bridge language, common language, trade language, auxiliary language, vehicular language, or link language, is a language systematically used to make communication possible between groups ...
'' of galactic organized crime.
The language is a constructed language, with many distorted English words, most having the same syllables as the English. Its phonology is said to be based on the
Quechua language.
[Crit Minster, Paula Newton, and Ricardo Segreda, ''Viva Travel Guide to Peru: Exploring Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Inca Trail, Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, Lima and Beyond'' (Viva Travel Guide to Peru: Exploring Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Inca Trail, Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, Lima and Beyond)]
26
Non-Hutts also speak Huttese, including the
Max Rebo Band
The Max Rebo Band is a fictional Extraterrestrials in fiction, alien pop music band in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, first appearing in the 1983 film ''Return of the Jedi'' as in-house performers for crime lord Jabba the Hutt. The lineup original ...
,
Bib Fortuna, and
C-3PO.
Reception
Parodies
Due to Jabba's iconically hideous appearance, the image of the Hutt species has been a subject of numerous parodies in popular culture, often invoking the creatures as symbols of obesity, gluttony, greed and corruption. Of particular note is "
Pizza the Hutt
''Spaceballs'' is a 1987 American space opera parody film co-written, produced and directed by Mel Brooks. It is primarily a parody of the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy, but also parodies other sci-fi films and popular franchises including ...
" from the ''Star Wars'' spoof film ''
Spaceballs
''Spaceballs'' is a 1987 American space opera parody film co-written, produced and directed by Mel Brooks. It is primarily a parody of the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy, but also parodies other sci-fi films and popular franchises including ...
'',
Peter Griffin
Peter Löwenbräu Griffin, born Justin Peter Griffin, is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the American animated sitcom ''Family Guy''. He is voiced by the series' creator, Seth MacFarlane, and first appeared on television, alon ...
's portrayal in the ''
Family Guy
''Family Guy'' is an American animated sitcom originally conceived and created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The show centers around the Griffin family, Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter Griff ...
'' episode "
He's Too Sexy For His Fat
The second season of '' Family Guy'' first aired on the Fox network in 21 episodes from September 23, 1999, to August 1, 2000. The series follows the dysfunctional Griffin family—father Peter, mother Lois, daughter Meg, son Chris, baby Stew ...
," and
Sally Struthers' portrayal in the ''
South Park
''South Park'' is an American animated sitcom created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone and developed by Brian Graden for Comedy Central. The series revolves around four boys Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, Eric Cartman, and Kenny McCormickand th ...
'' episode "
Starvin Marvin in Space."
References
External links
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Huttese languageby Andras Rajki
{{Star Wars universe, state=collapsed
Fictional elements introduced in 1977
Fictional extraterrestrial life forms
Fictional gastropods
Fictional organized crime groups
Star Wars species