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| “ | I saved him, at least that's what he says, the big fuzzy fool, but really, he saved me. I was on a bad path, and Chewie, he put me straight. Saved my shanks more than once too. | „ |
| ~ Han Solo on Chewbecca. |
Chewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a major character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a Wookiee who serves as Han Solo's best friend and co-pilot of the Millenium Falcon, the fastest ship in the galaxy. Despite his huge size, frightening appearance and fierce temper, Chewbacca is ultimately a kind, sweet hearted and deeply loyal friend, willing to help his friends and allies anyway he can.
In the original trilogy and Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, he was portrayed by the late Peter Mayhew. In the sequel trilogy and Solo: A Star Wars Story, he was portrayed by Joonas Suotamo.
History[]
In the series' narrative chronology, Chewbacca was born on Kashyyyk about 180 years before the outbreak of the Clone Wars.
Films[]
Chewbacca first appears in Episode IV: A New Hope in a cantina on Mos Eisley, where he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi after witnessing Dr. Cornelius Evazan hurling Luke Skywalker, the son of Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, right into a table, causing Kenobi to draw his lightsaber, slashing Evazan and severing Ponda Baba's arm, before introducing them to Han Solo, whom also watched the event. Chewbacca and Han accept a charter to take Luke, Obi-Wan and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 to the planet Alderaan, only to find that the planet has been destroyed by the Death Star.
In Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Chewbacca and Han Solo become important figures in the Alliance, and eventually help the Rebels defeat the Galactic Empire.
| “ | Good-bye, Tarfful. Good-bye, Chewbacca. Miss you I will. | „ |
| ~ Yoda's farewell to Chewbacca and Tarfful. |
In Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, set 19 years before Episode IV: A New Hope, Chewbacca, along with Tarfful, fights in the Clone Wars when their planet, Kashyyyk, is invaded. They also help to get Jedi Master, Yoda to safety after witnessing Commander Gree turning on Yoda following Order 66 began by Chancellor Palpatine who is Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Chewbacca uses his traditional weapon, the Bowcaster.
Unlike in the Legends continuity, Chewbacca was still alive thirty years after the Battle of Endor. He was still partnered with his old friend Han Solo.
After the death of Han Solo, Chewbacca accompanied Rey to Ahch-To to bring Luke Skywalker back to the Resistance. When Luke locked himself in his home, Rey had Chewbacca bust down the door to his place and barge inside. While glad to see Chewbacca, he quickly realized something was amiss as Han was not present, and was informed that Han had died.
Chewbacca remained on the island while Rey tried to convince Skywalker to train her. He captured and roasted a couple of the native porgs, but felt guilty when seeing many other porgs staring at him.
After Rey decided to leave Ahch-To on the Falcon, Chewie flew her back to Snoke's Mega-class Star Dreadnought Supremacy. He brought the ship out of hyperspace just long enough to drop her off in an escape pod, then jumped the Falcon back to hyperpsace. After the Supremacy was destroyed he picked Rey up and flew the ship during the Battle of Crait, managing to draw away many of the TIE fighters harassing the Resistance forces.
When the Falcon left Crait with all the surviving Resistance members, Chewie came back and hugged his old friend Leia.
Television[]
The 1978 television program The Star Wars Holiday Special introduces Chewbacca's family: Mallatobuck, Attichitcuk, and Lumpawarrump. They live together on Kashyyyk. The Star Wars Holiday Special consisted of a frame story in which Han and Chewbacca must prevent Darth Vader from spoiling Life Day, and get home to be with Chewbacca's family. It aired only once. Both his wife and son would later be added in to the new canon after the release of The Force Awakens via novels set in the new timeline.
| “ | It's a Wookiee! | „ |
| ~ Ahsoka upon her first encounter with Chewbacca. |
In the season 3 finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Chewbacca is captured by Trandoshan hunters, but is freed by Ahsoka Tano, and agrees to help her and two younglings escape. He builds a transmitter out of parts from the damaged Trandoshan ship, but it seems unable to work. Later, he and Ahsoka attack the Trandoshan fortress, killing many in sight, before they are found and assisted by other Wookiees, led by Tarfull.
Trivia[]
- Although he is alive in the Disney Canon Continuity, he is deceased in the Legends Canon Continuity in Star Wars: The New Jedi: Vector Prime on the Destruction of Sernpidal.
- While filming Return of the Jedi in the forests of Northern California, Chewbacca's late actor Peter Mayhew, who was 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m), was given strict instructions to never wander off in his Chewbacca costume so that he wouldn't get shot by hunters mistaking him for Bigfoot. It's obvious that Northern California is known for its Bigfoot legends and it's important to prioritize safety and ensure that everyone on the set is aware of potential risks. Filming in outdoor locations can sometimes lead to unexpected encounters and misunderstandings.
- In "The Star Wars Holiday Special", Chewbacca is shown to have a family.
- To make Chewbacca's vocalizations, sound designer Ben Burtt used a combination of animals by recording sounds of bears, walruses, lions, badgers and other animals to create the character's vocal effects.
External Links[]
- Chewbacca (Canon Profile) on Wookiepedia
- Chewbacca (Legends) on Wookiepedia
