Nute Gunray

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Nute Gunray
Star Wars character
Aboard the bridge of the Profiteer, Nute Gunray is ordered by Darth Sidious to kill the Jedi ambassadors.
Position	Viceroy of the Trade Federation, Separatist Head of State
Homeworld	Neimoidia
Species	Neimoidian
Gender	Male
Height	1.89 meters
Affiliation	Trade Federation Confederacy of Independent Systems
Portrayed by	Silas Carson

Nute Gunray (?? - 19 BBY) is a fictional character from the Star Wars universe, played by Silas Carson.

He is a Neimoidian from the planet Neimoidia, an amphibian-faced humanoid with snake-like eyes. Gunray is considerably more daring than other cowardly Neimoidians, going as far to make deals with a Sith Lord, enter into a war, and be involved in many battles.

In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Gunray and his organization, the Trade Federation, appear to be the movie's primary villains, but it is made clear early on to the audience (although not to the movie's characters) that the real antagonist is the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Aside from Sidious, he is the only villain to appear in all three films of the prequel trilogy.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

1 Biography
2 Deleted scenes
3 Novelisations
4 Video games
5 Costume
6 Influences
7 Appearances
8 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Cloak of Deception

In the novel Cloak of Deception, the Nebula Front, a terrorist group opposed to the Trade Federation's exclusive access to the Free Trade Zones, conducted a series of attacks on Trade Federation vessels. By this point, Gunray had made his deal with Darth Sidious, though he did not so much accept the deal as have it forced upon him. Sidious told Gunray that the increasing attacks on the Federation would allow them to increase their security forces, Gunray and his associates visited the Baktoid factories to acquire even more powerful weapons, including destroyer droids.

Though Gunray's associates Rune Haako and Daultay Dofine were shocked at the idea, he assured them these new weapons would ensure they remained safe. Sidious often showed his disdain for Haako and Dofine, referring to them as "underlings" who lacked his grasp of the bigger picture. When Gunray attended the trade summit on Eriadu with Senator Lott Dod, he was called away just in time for the Nebula Front to launch an attack which destroyed the remainder of the Trade Federation Directorate. Gunray was surprised at Sidious' unsubtle move, but pleased with the outcome.

Gunray was now Viceroy of the entire Trade Federation, and ensured that it was a Nemoidian-dominated organization. The first crisis Gunray faced as head of the Federation was Chancellor Finis Valorum's decision to impose a tax on trade routes throughout the galaxy. Sidious already had plans in mind, and advised Gunray to blockade the peaceful world of Naboo in protest, assuring the Viceroy that Valorum was weak and would not be able to act.

[edit] Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter

In the novel Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, Gunray's Deputy Viceroy, Hath Monchar, escaped with proof of Sidious' existence. Gunray lied to Sidious, saying Monchar was taken ill, and he and Rune Haako organized for a bounty hunter named Mawhi Lhinn to track down Monchar. Lord Sidious suspected Gunray had lied and dispatched his apprentice, Darth Maul, to kill Monchar before he could give anyone his information. Maul executed Monchar, and also killed Mawhi Lhinn. The incident made the Viceroy very stressed, as he was worried of the dangers of serving Sidious and often thought that perhaps his life may be simpler as a farmer back on Neimoidia.

[edit] Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Gunray blockaded Naboo from trade routes. Chancellor Valorum dispatched two ambassadors to talk with Gunray aboard the Droid Control Ship Profiteer, and he was shocked to discover that the ambassadors were in fact Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. He swiftly contacted Sidious, at which point Daultay Dofine dared express his concerns about the plan. Sidious ordered that Dofine be kept out of his sight, and Gunray ushered him off the bridge.

Sidious told Gunray to kill the Jedi, and Gunray destroyed their ship and released toxic gas into the conference chamber. However, the two Jedi managed to escape, but Gunray decided to keep this secret from Sidious for the time being, as he was concerned over how the Republic would respond to their idea of actually invading Naboo. Sidious assured the Viceroy he would make it legal. Gunray was smug when talking with Naboo's Queen, Padmé Amidala, telling her he knew nothing of any ambassadors. Amidala told Gunray he had gone too far before ending the transmission. Gunray ordered OOM-9 to find the Jedi, but the droids were unable to. The invasion was well-organized, and the planet fully conquered within the day. Gunray and Haako entered Theed with their troops and Gunray received word from OOM-9 that they had captured the Queen. Gunray proudly proclaimed victory and marched into the palace.

The outraged Governor Sio Bibble demanded how Gunray planned to explain this invasion to the Senate, to which Gunray replied he and the Queen would a sign a treaty to legitimise the occupation. The Queen quickly told the Viceroy she would not cooperate, but Gunray was not impressed, informing her that the suffering of her people would persuade her to see his point of view. The Queen was marched off to a detention camp, but on her way there was rescued by Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, who managed to get her off the planet and past the blockade. Gunray was now forced to inform Sidious, who not pleased with latest events, he revealed his apprentice to the shocked Gunray and Haako, and told him that his Sith apprentice, Darth Maul, would find the Queen.

Gunray quickly secured the planet, with only the Gungan "primitives" eluding him. He set himself up in the Queen's palace in Theed, taunting Governor Bibble from his mechno-throne. He soon grew tired of the Governor's protests, however, and informed him he would die much sooner than his people. After unsuccessfully pleading for intervention by the Old Republic Senate, Amidala called for the expulsion of Chancellor Valorum, who was unable to outtalk Senator Lott Dod. Naboo's own Senator Palpatine was elected the new Chancellor; unbeknownst to the Trade Federation, Palpatine was in fact Sidious' civilian alter ego, and was manipulating them as part of his plan to dominate the galaxy.

Despite this, the Senate still would not take action, and Amidala returned home, vowing to liberate her planet or die trying. Gunray reported his success to Sidious, who was pleased, he told the Viceroy that his apprentice Darth Maul was coming to join him. As Maul arrived, Gunray detected the Queen's ship and tracked it to the swamps on Naboo. He reported this to Sidious, who was wary of the Queen's more aggressive motives. Gunray next detected the assembled army of Gungans in the swamps and dispatched OOM-9 and a large majority of his army to crush the them, dismissing them as primitives.

Gunray remained in the throne room with Rune Haako and Darth Maul, and Maul left to deal with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn as Gunray became concerned the battle was taking place far too close to him. The Queen was able to work her way into the palace, before being captured and marched before the Viceroy. Gunray ordered her to sign the treaty, but the Queen's disguised handmaiden appeared, confusing him. He ordered his droids after the decoy, believing her to be the real Queen. This was Gunray's fatal mistake. The real Queen used the distraction to take out Gunray's guards and held him and Haako at gunpoint. Gunray was not worried at first, because he thought his droids would break through to rescue him. But his hopes of rescue were shattered when a young boy named Anakin Skywalker destroyed the droid control ship Profiteer, deactivating his army. With his forces destroyed and Darth Maul dead, Gunray and Haako were arrested and sent back to Coruscant to stand trial for their crimes.

[edit] Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, it is revealed that after four trials in the Republic Supreme Court, Gunray still maintained control over the Trade Federation. Gunray, feeling betrayed by Darth Sidious, came to Count Dooku for help, and Dooku advised him to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Little knowing that Sidious was the mastermind behind the Confederacy and that Dooku was secretly a Sith Lord himself, Gunray sought to combine the Trade Federation's droid armies with those of the Techno Union in order to strong-arm smaller star systems into supporting the Confederacy.

Still bearing a grudge against the former Queen of Naboo, he stipulated he would not sign Dooku's treaty unless Dooku agreed to have Amidala killed as revenge for his humiliation on Naboo. To this end, Dooku hired the bounty hunter Jango Fett. Jango failed, but it was while Gunray was on Geonosis with contract-scribe Gilramos Libkath and several other Separatists to oversee the production of the droid army that Gunray finally got his chance at revenge against Amidala when she and Anakin Skywalker were captured by the Geonosians while trying to rescue the captive Obi-Wan Kenobi. Along with Dooku, Jango Fett, Jango's son Boba, and Poggle the Lesser, Gunray and Libkath sat back in a private viewing to watch the former queen and the two Jedi fight for their lives against the reek, nexu, and Acklay in the Geonosian execution arena.

To his fury, she escaped once again, despite the Viceroy's repeated demands that someone "shoot her... or something!" Shortly thereafter, a large force of Jedi led by Mace Windu arrived to rescue their friends. Throughout the ensuing skirmish between the Jedi and the CIS' droid legions in the execution arena, Gunray remained in the viewing box. At one point he and Libkath were almost killed when C-3PO, whose head had accidentally been attached to the body of a battle droid, fired on them from the area below. They barely avoided the blaster-fire. When Yoda arrived with a force of clone troopers, Gunray and Libkath retreated with Dooku to the underground war room. As the situation worsened and the Republic forces cut off the CIS' communications, Gunray initially demanded that Dooku send all available droids into battle. Then, at Libkath's insistence, the Viceroy decided to flee Geonosis altogether. After giving the order for all Trade Federation starships to retreat, Gunray and Libkath scurried aboard their Neimoidian Shuttle and flew from the battle.

The Clone Wars had begun, and Gunray suddenly found himself preparing his droids for war. Gunray was a businessman, not a warmaster, but there was no way he could break his ties with the CIS without losing his life. Two months after the Battle of Geonosis, Gunray discovered that Darth Sidious was in fact the secret leader of the Confederacy, and Gilramos Libkath abandoned the Viceroy, leaving the Trade Federation.

[edit] Labyrinth of Evil

In the novel Labyrinth of Evil, Gunray returns to his home on Cato Neimoidia to plunder what wealth he can, while being pursued by his old enemies Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Gunray cleverly escapes, making fools out of his pursuers, but his victory is shortlived when he realizes he has forgotten his prized Mechno Chair, which he uses to communicate with Darth Sidious and General Grievous. Grievous was furious when he discovered Nute's mistakes, and barged into Gunray's quarters. Nute's old friend Rune Haako quickly abandoned the Viceroy just as Libkath had, and Grievous picked up Gunray by the throat and said he would be punished. However, Gunray remained unpunished, as Darth Sidious would allow no harm to come to him, and he was later sent to Utapau with the other Separatist leaders. When General Grievous began his attack on Coruscant, Gunray began to think he had underestimated the cyborg general, and, for the first time during the war, he celebrated with his comrades.

[edit] Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Nute Gunray was tired of the war, and found himself at odds with the droid army leader General Grievous, Gunray dared to question Grievous' leadership but his concerns fell on deaf ears. The staggering deaths of both Dooku and General Grievous had left the Confederacy floundering. Sidious contacted Gunray, who was now the leader of the remaining separatist forces, and the other CIS leaders in their new hidden base on Mustafar and ordered them to disarm and deactivate their remaining droid reserves - the war was over. Sidious' new apprentice Anakin Skywalker, now known as Darth Vader, arrived under the pretense of negotiating for peace. Gunray welcomed Vader, but it was only too late that the Confederacy leaders realized that Vader had come to tie up Sidious' loose ends by killing them all. Nute Gunray was left to watch his fellow council members slaughtered one by one, including his comrade Haako. Gunray begged for mercy, but Vader cut him down before he could finish talking.

[edit] Deleted scenes

In a scene cut from Attack of the Clones in which Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala are put on trial by the Geonosians, Nute Gunray watches from the side. When the trial goes on too long he shouts to Poggle the Lesser, "Get on with it, carry out the sentence, I want to see her suffer!" Poggle the Lesser quickly wraps up the trial and orders his guards to take Anakin and Padmé to the execution arena.

A deleted scene in Revenge of the Sith shows Nute Gunray and Rune Haako hiding under a table as Vader slaughtered the Separatist Council. Haako panicked and tried to escape, but was quickly killed by Vader (seen in the film), but Gunray stayed hidden. As Vader killed the others, Gunray quickly got out from under the table and activated the control panel for the doors to open, as the other council members were all killed, destroyer droids entered and opened fire on Vader. Gunray watched as the smoke cleared and Vader was gone. Vader then dropped down from the roof and destroyed the droids, jumping over to Gunray.

[edit] Novelisations

The representation of Nute Gunray differs somewhat in the novelisations of the films. In The Phantom Menace novelisation by Terry Brooks, he is portrayed as a great deal braver than his film counterpart, standing his ground when held at gunpoint by Queen Amidala, and even standing up to the ruthless Darth Sidious, who accuses Gunray of defying him. In the Revenge of the Sith novelisation by Matthew Stover, Gunray is described as treacherous, venal, and cowardly.

[edit] Video games

Nute Gunray appears in the Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace video game on both the first and final levels. The mission on the final level of the game is to capture Gunray while playing as Padmé Amidala, battling through Gunray's traps in the room until he finally surrenders. Gunray can be killed here, if the player shoots him quickly enough. He also appears in the strategy game Galactic Battlegrounds giving OOM-9 his missions for the Trade Federation levels and the character is playable in the custom game section. Gunray also appears in the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith video game, on the level 'Assassination on Mustafar', where he realizes Darth Sidious has betrayed him and dispatches security to kill Vader. When Vader reaches the control room, Gunray locks the other Separatist leaders in the conference room with the assassin, and escapes to his shuttle while they are killed, and he looks back fearfully as he hears Rune Haako's screams before getting on his ship. The player (as Vader) must then engage Gunray in a duel.

[edit] Costume

Nute Gunray, like his arch enemy Padmé Amidala, had a taste for fine clothing. In The Phantom Menace he wears a crimson robe and tri cornered head-dress, in Attack of the Clones he wears red robes and a slightly different head-dress. In Revenge of the Sith he wears a dark red robe with a turban like head-dress.