Warning: Spoilers for The Book of Boba Fett season 1, episode 3!
in The Book of Boba Fett episode 3.
Despite starting later in life as an actor, Trejo's acting career includes about 250 between film and television roles, spanning four decades. Although many of his acting roles saw him portray tough and intimidating characters, his works extend over many genres. Among his many performances, he's famous for portraying Isador "Machete" Cortez in the Spy Kids series, a character that director Robert Rodriguez always intended for Trejo after meeting him. More recently, Trejo appeared in Brooklyn Nine-Nine season 5, episode 10, as the intimidating father of the equally frightening Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz).
Although Trejo's acting career is exceedingly fruitful, he never appeared in any film or TV show exploring the Star Wars universe, despite having expressed his desire for it. In an episode of Animal Talking, Rogue One's writer Gary Whitta's web series that aired on Twitch during the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Trejo expressed interest for The Mandalorian, and Whitta promised to talk about it to LucasFilm's Dave Filoni. Although that hasn't happened, Trejo appeared in The Book of Boba Fett episode 3, surprising viewers who did not expect him in the show.
Trejo's surprise appearance in The Book of Boba Fett might also be linked to something else apart from his desire to appear in The Mandalorian. Like The Book of Boba Fett episode 1 of the series created by Jon Favreau, episode 3 was directed by Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez has repeatedly worked with Trejo, collaborating with him not only on the Spy Kids films but also on Desperado in 1995 and From Dusk Till Dawn in 1996. As Rodriguez is clearly heavily involved in The Book of Boba Fett, having already directed two of the three released episodes and being also described as its co-showrunner, he might be responsible for Trejo's surprising and much-appreciated cameo in the show.
It's unknown whether Danny Trejo will reprise its role as the Rancor trainer in the following The Book of Boba Fett episodes. Still, as the scenes Trejo appeared in showed the Rancor's potential emotional importance to Boba Fett, it shouldn't be ruled out. Even if that weren't the case, though, fans will definitely rejoice in knowing that The Book of Boba Fett made one of Trejo's wishes come true with his cameo in episode 3.
New episodes of The Book of Boba Fett air Wednesdays on Disney+.
