In The Book of Boba Fett, there's a rule where Boba must seek permission to kill Hutts. Here's why Leia didn't seek permission when she killed Jabba.

Warning: SPOILERS for The Book of Boba Fett Episode 2 - "Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine."

In The Book of Boba Fett episode 2, Boba Fett (Temura Morrison) can't kill the Hutts without permission but that rule didn't apply to Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) in Return of the Jedi. The Book of Boba Fett tells a dual tale of what happened to the bounty hunter after Boba Fett escaped from the Sarlacc in Return of the Jedi and the Mandalorian-armor-wearing anti-hero's attempt to claim the throne of the deceased Jabba the Hutt. Boba Fett learns that taking power in Mos Espa is a lot easier than holding onto it, especially when the Hutts want what they believe is rightfully theirs.

When the Twins, Jabba's cousins who intend to reclaim his position as Daimyo that Boba Fett usurped, confront the ex-bounty hunter in The Book of Boba Fett episode 2, Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) tells Boba, "You need permission if you want to kill them." Since Boba Fett was one of the galaxy's most notorious killers-for-hire for many years, he's likely familiar with the Hutts and their infrastructure. The Hutts are a major power in Star Wars' criminal underworld. The Hutt Clan is made up of several kajidic, which are both gangs and families, and is overseen by the Grand Hutt Council, which is made up of the leaders of the five most powerful kajidic. And, as Boba Fett is quickly learning on Tatooine, Jabba the Hutt lorded over a complicated political and criminal structure in Mos Espa, which has arcane rules of tradition, behavior, and ceremony. As much as he wants to, Boba Fett can't just open fire on the Twins without serious repercussions.

However, none of the laws holding Boba back in The Book of Boba Fett restrained Princess Leia and she needed no permission to murder Jabba the Hutt in Return of the Jedi. Leia led the plot to free Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from his Carbonite prison and bringing down Jabba ultimately became pivotal to the rescue mission. Leia also personally executed Jabba by choking the massive slug with a chain, which was sweet revenge for his turning her into a slave. After Leia, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), and R2-D2 saved Han - while dropping Boba Fett into the maw of the Sarlacc - the heroes of the Rebel Alliance got away scot-free and faced no consequences from the Hutts over the death of Jabba.

Leia not only killed Jabba the Hutt in cold blood but she became infamous for it as depicted in Claudia Gray's canonical novel, Star Wars: Bloodline. Leia even gained the nickname "Huttslayer." Yet, despite the power the Hutts wield in the underworld, there was no retaliation for Leia murdering Jabba as there would be towards Boba Fett if he killed the Twins. This likely has to do with how Leia became a powerful leader in the New Republic after the Rebellion toppled the Empire in Return of the Jedi. Not only was Leia too high profile to target but her twin brother is Luke Skywalker. The Hutts making an enemy of the Last Jedi would have been bad for business, especially considering what the Skywalker twins and their friends already did to Jabba.

Of course, the real-world reason why Leia didn't need permission to kill Jabba is that rule didn't exist at the time Return of the Jedi was in production. Star Wars canonically fleshing out ancillary characters like the Hutts happened years later through comics, novels, and animated series. The rule Fennec Shand quoted that prevents Boba Fett from outright killing Jabba's Twin cousins didn't apply to Leia back in the early 1980s. This retcon in The Book of Boba Fett makes Leia killing Jabba in Return of the Jedi an even bolder move in retrospect since the Rebel leader never sought permission before she took out the most powerful crime lord on Tatooine.

Next: Star Wars Makes A New Hope Deleted Scene Canon After 44 Years

The Book of Boba Fett streams Wednesdays on Disney+.