Warning: SPOILERS for The Book of Boba Fett episode 3.

The Book of Boba Fett continues to tease a new villain working against Boba Fett, and it could be Maul's crime syndicate, Crimson Dawn. The aftermath of the legendary bounty hunter killing Bib Fortuna in The Mandalorian season 2's post-credits scene has taken center stage of the latest Disney+ series. Boba Fett's attempt to rule Tatooine has not been met without resistance, though, as the show has introduced various obstacles for him to overcome. The Book of Boba Fett's real villain might even be Crimson Dawn, based on what has been revealed so far.

There has been immense speculation about Crimson Dawn's possible role in Boba Fett's spinoff show. The crime syndicate was introduced in Solo: A Star Wars Story, where Dryden Vos was the face of a group secretly run by Darth Maul. When Vos died in the movie's finale, Maul recruited Emilia Clarke's Qi'ra to be Crimson Dawn's new public leader. It was quite clear that the organization would play a bigger role in the franchise moving forward, but Lucasfilm has yet to continue Solo's story. Crimson Dawn has lived on thanks to various comics and books, which have done an excellent job of building up the syndicate under Qi'ra.

Related: What Happened To Qi'ra After Solo: A Star Wars Story

Theories about Crimson Dawn appearing in The Book of Boba Fett have so far yet to materialize, but the seeds are there for a future reveal that Maul's crime syndicate is the show's real villain. One such hint came in episode 3 when the Hutts revealed that Tatooine is already under the control of someone else. The Book of Boba Fett implies that the Pyke Syndicate is the answer and who Boba Fett will face off with moving forward. While the presence of the Pykes might make some think a Crimson Dawn connection is less likely, it could be one of many ways the show plants the seed for Maul's crime syndicate to emerge.

Book Of Boba Fett's Villain Probably Isn't The Pyke Syndicate

Book of Boba Fett pyke gang Han solo connection pyke syndicate

Even though The Book of Boba Fett episode 3 does everything it can to sell the Pyke Syndicate as the show's main villains, it just doesn't quite add up. One of the issues with this idea is how the Pyke Syndicate has been used in Star Wars properties before. The group is certainly powerful, but they've never been a threat of this scale. Perhaps the franchise is attempting to build them up so they can before that, but that is tougher to do when they've routinely been a secondary threat. This is especially true when the Hutts are factored in. What is known about the Pyke Syndicate in canon doesn't present them as a syndicate that the Hutts would be scared of. The idea that the twins and the rest of the Hutt Clan are so easily willing to give up their empire doesn't make sense unless there is a bigger threat than the Pykes lurking.

Beyond the issue with the Pyke Syndicate itself, The Book of Boba Fett revealing its main villain at this point also seems odd. The show is only on its third episode and has four more to go. If The Mandalorian is used as an example, the show presented Werner Herzog's The Client as the main villain, only for Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) to come in at the end. It won't be surprising if The Book of Boba Fett takes a similar approach to its sister Star Wars show or most of the MCU Disney+ series and include a late-season villain reveal. If the Pyke Syndicate was the main villain of The Book of Boba Fett, it'd make more sense for the show to hold off on that info until later on, especially since episode 3 only just established the history between the Pykes and Fett.

Theory: Boba Fett's Real Villain Is Crimson Dawn (Led By Qi'ra)

Boba-Fett-Darth-Maul-Crimson-Dawn-Hints-Featured

The tease of the Pyke Syndicate's role in The Book of Boba Fett could be the show's way of delaying the return of Crimson Dawn. There have been a few different hints that Maul's crime syndicate could be the real villains behind the series, especially thanks to the Pykes. It is well established in canon that the Pykes and Crimson Dawn worked together, as both of them were part of Maul's Shadow Collective. However, that criminal group fizzled over time and left the Pykes and Crimson Dawn to operate independently of the other more. They still worked in the same criminal circles, though, even after Maul's death at Obi-Wan Kenobi's hand before A New Hope. Once Qi'ra took control of Crismon Dawn, she invited the Pykes to the auction for Han Solo's carbonite form.

Related: Star Wars Theory: Why Boba Fett Is Really Replacing Jabba On Tatooine

These connections between the Pyke Syndicate and Crimson Dawn could mean they are operating under Qi'ra's command in The Book of Boba Fett. This would explain why the Hutts are so afraid of the Pykes, because they have the power of Qi'ra and Crimson Dawn behind them. The Hutts are well-aware of what Maul's former crime syndicate is possible of too, as they've clashed plenty of times in the past. With the Hutts out of the way and Boba Fett having bad blood for the Pykes after they killed the Tusken Raiders, they will work as a short-term antagonist for the bounty hunter. However, if the Pykes and Crimson Dawn by association have been promised the planet, then Qi'ra could appear in The Book of Boba Fett if the bounty hunter starts wiping out her forces.

What Happened To Qi'ra & Crimson Dawn After Maul's Death

Qi'Ra-Maul-Star-Wars-Crimson-Reign-Featured

The Star Wars universe has used Crimson Dawn plenty over the years, but most of their stories come from when Maul was in charge. It has only been recently that the syndicate's operations under Qi'ra have been explored in the comics. Crimson Dawn was thought to have been wiped out by its enemies in the time immediately after Maul's death, but Qi'ra managed to keep the organization alive and make it her own. One of Lady Qi'ra's first moves was plotting a Syndicate War to try and end the Empire's reign. This included obtaining Han Solo's carbonite block and setting up an auction for the highest bidder, which Jabba ultimately won. It was during this event that Crimson Dawn came into conflict with Boba Fett for the first time. They remained quite active throughout the time of the original trilogy, but The Book of Boba Fett is set a few years later.

Since there is somewhere between 5 and 6 years worth of unexplored Crimson Dawn adventures by the time The Book of Boba Fett takes place, there is room for the series to fill in some gaps. It has been said in canon that Crimson Dawn thrived during the formative years of the New Republic. This is when Qi'ra's Crimson Dawn could appear in The Book of Boba Fett and show exactly what they've been up to. However, there are also allusions that Crimson Dawn isn't quite as powerful during the time of Disney's sequel Star Wars trilogy, so perhaps their potential encounter with Boba Fett could have something to do with their downfall.

Why Qi'ra & Crimson Dawn Are The Perfect Villains For Book of Boba Fett

Blended image showing Boba Fett and Qi'ra

Crimson Dawn & Qi'ra are the best options for The Book of Boba Fett's real villain at this point too. It could've made sense for the show to revolve around Boba Fett dealing with the Hutts, but they have already ceded defeat it seems. The Pykes aren't quite as terrifying of a threat for him either. Crimson Dawn has a history with Boba Fett that the series can flesh out more and introduce the rivalry to those who haven't kept up with the comics or books. It also pits the iconic bounty hunter against a crime syndicate that is more powerful than the empire he is trying to take hold of. Maul's crime syndicate Crimson Dawn is one of the few opponents around that can really give Boba Fett a challenge.

It would also be smart for Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise to use Crimson Dawn and Qi'ra again in this light. Although Solo: A Star Wars Story wasn't a massive hit, it does have a big following online. Many are eager to see storylines and characters from the movie continue in live-action, not just in other canon stories. Bringing Crimson Dawn and Emilia Clarke's Qi'ra back in The Book of Boba Fett can appease that part of the fanbase while also potentially teasing how they could be part of the franchise's future. Since Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are working on multiple other shows, like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, Crimson Dawn returning in The Book of Boba Fett might signal a role for them in those future properties.

More: Star Wars Is Removing Everything Cool About Boba Fett

The Book of Boba Fett streams Wednesdays on Disney+.