I Think I've Finally Figured Out Why Star Wars Keeps Going Back To Tatooine

Summary Tatooine's constant appearances in Star Wars make sense - it's important due to being on key hyperspace lanes.

Luke Skywalker's teenager complaint was exaggerated; Tatooine is a hub of activities despite being remote.

Close to hyperspace lanes but far from governments, Tatooine is perfect for scoundrels and criminal activity in the Star Wars universe.

It seems like Star Wars stories just keep on returning to Tatooine over and over again – but I think there's actually a pretty good canon reason for this in the Star Wars timeline. Viewers were introduced to the planet Tatooine in the first Star Wars movie, and Luke Skywalker - the hero - was desperate to get off the planet. "If there's a bright center to the universe, you're on the planet that it's farthest from," Luke complained.

Luke may not have loved his homeworld, but Tatooine has since become a mainstay in the saga. It appears in no less than five of the nine Skywalker Saga movies, it's visited in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated movie, and even The Mandalorian has headed to Tatooine several times. The Book of Boba Fett was - with the exception of its Din Djarin episodes - entirely set on Tatooine. But why does so much happen on this supposedly remote planet?

Star Wars Has Turned Luke Skywalker's Tatooine Complaint Into A Total Lie

Not So Far From The Galaxy's "Bright Center"

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I don't think Luke Skywalker's comment was ever meant to be taken seriously. He's a teenager, after all, and one who's desperate to leave his corner of nowhere to join the Imperial Academy. He's also lived a sheltered life, with his aunt and uncle protecting him from galactic events as much as they can - meaning he hadn't even heard of the Jedi. But, while Luke may not be a reliable source, I was surprised to find an explanation for Tatooine's constant appearances in 1998's Star Wars #12 by Timothy Truman and Al Rio.

There's A Reason Tatooine Is More Important Than Luke Thinks

Tatooine Is On Several Hyperspace Lanes

Star Wars #12 features the bounty hunter Aurra Sing, a character briefly seen on Tatooine in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Reading the comic recently, I found my attention drawn to one panel in which she revealed the reason for Tatooine's importance:

"Tatooine borders several key Hyperspace jump points. Want to enter or leave the Outer Rim? You probably have to pass Tatooine. Here, the Republic has no power. Goods can be smuggled. Slaves can be bought and sold. Fugitives can be hidden. Podracing can flourish."

This quote isn't canon, but it still points to what I believe to be the reason for Tatooine's frequent appearances. While being on the Outer Rim, Tatooine lies very near to the intersection of the major Corellian Run hyperspace lane, and the Outer Rim's key Triellus Trade Route. This makes it a place where traders, travelers, and anyone else heading towards the Outer Rim can always stop – but never stay. This, to me, perfectly explains how frequently Tatooine is visited on galaxy-spanning adventures, while still being regarded as a place where not a lot of people live.

Related Star Wars Galaxy Map & All Regions Explained From Tatooine to Coruscant, from Mustafar to Exegol, here is your ultimate guide to the Star Wars galaxy - it's grown since 1977!

Tatooine Is Close Enough For Access, & Far Enough For Escape

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Tatooine is a hub of criminal activity that exists far from the reach of the Empire and the Republic (at least most of the time). It's close enough to major hyperspace lanes to act as a staging post for criminal gangs, but far enough from the Galactiic Core to be free from the governments of the Star Wars galaxy. Given Star Wars often spends time with scoundrels, it's the perfect planet for our heroes to live on.