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Chewbaccais one of the most darling characters in theStar Warsuniverse , and with good intellect . Hailing from a race of furry , tree diagram - dwelling warrior of the planet Kashyyyk , Chewbacca ’s virtues are numerous . He ’s a bastardly shot with a Bowcaster , and he ’s always catch your back . He ’s fiercely loyal and one hell of a Centennial State - pilot - not just anyone could fly theMillennium Falconthrough the Kessel Run in 12 Parsecs . He may be a tender loser at Space Chess , but he ’s puzzle a great signified of humor ( " laugh it up , fuzzball " ) , and he ’s unremarkably good for a squeeze , whether you ’re celebrating a victory over the malevolent Empire or mourning fallen comrades .
Inthe prequels , we learn that Chewie saw some activity in theClone Wars , long before he and Han Solo aided the rebel in the Galactic Civil War . So , at least for this Wookiee , their enlistment was never just about mother out of debt withJabba the Hutt . Both Han and Chewie were instrumental in securing several crucial victories . His piece of work for the rebellion tells us a lot about his personality and character , but in some ways , Chewie is still an intergalactic andiron - humans of enigma .
Here are 15 surprising and footling known fact about everybody ’s favorite Wookiee .
Chewie Is A Genius
In improver to his keen scrap and piloting acquirement , Chewbacca ’s vast reason has come in ready to hand on legion occasions . He ’s up to of the kind of on - the - fly ship haunt that are crucial in surviving the myriad harrowing circumstances theMillennium Falconoften encounters . the great unwashed constantly refer to the Falcon as a hunk of rubble that seems like it will fall apart at any moment , but Chewbacca always negociate to get the ship up and range again , often just in the gouge of fourth dimension . Flying in and of itself requires a certain level of understanding .
Sure , it may not have looked peculiarly impressive when he re - assembled C-3PO from rubbish metal , but bare in thinker , he was doing so without a manual of arms . ( Okay , so he put C-3PO ’s head on backwards . But who ’s to say it was n’t revenge for beat him in Space Chess ? )
Yup - He’s Naked
Chewbacca ’s appearance is about as raunchy as a walking carpet . But the fact rest that he is technically raw , save for his ever - present bandolier . This is perfectly normal attire ( or miss therefrom ) for a Wookiee , and his fur understandably covers up any potentially dysphemistic body piece .
still , during production ofA New Hope , studio execs at twentieth Century Fox worried that audiences might be scandalized by the exposed unshorn body of an 8 foot - tall teddy bear . They draw off shorts onto a sketch of Chewbacca and sent it back to the art department as a “ note ” . Creature designer , Ralph McQuarrie , tried a via media , by losing the boxershorts but sum a flak jacket . The studio apartment countered with sloppy bloomers , and remained adamant that the Wookiee was underdressed . fortuitously , Lucas remained unwavering on the point of keeping Chewie in his natal day courtship .
That Wookiee Sound
Everyone has a Chewbacca effect in their back pocket . It ’s unimaginable to resist attempt that endear Wookiee bellowing . But you ’ve probably never heard anyone get it precisely correct , and with good reason . Chewbacca ’s talking to does n’t arrest any human vocalism at all . In fact , the audio designer cobbled together the signature articulation by recording animal calls at the Happy Hollow Zoo in San Jose California .
The most prevalent sounds come from a black bear called Tarik . But they also add up in calls from a badger , a lion , and a seahorse , depending on what emotions they want Chewie to communicate . Nonetheless , the man behind the Chewbacca suit , Peter Mayhew , is not above attempt his own Wookiee call when he dresses up for public appearances .
Humans Can’t Speak Wookiee
Ever wonder whyHan Solo , who has expend decades with his hirsute companion , can understand Chewie perfectly , but only ever addresses him in Galactic Basic ? Han ’s not being obstinate . Chewbacca speaks the Wookiee idiom known as Shriiwook , and it ’s very intemperately on the outspoken chords of non - Wookiees . It may sound like a serial publication of random oink and growls , but it ’s actually quite nuanced . There are numerous equivalent word for usual dustup . There are also 2 other Wookiee dialect : Thykarann and Xaczik .
as well , Wookiee vocal chord are n’t equipped to utter the common natural language , nor really any speech other than their own . Fortunately , they ’re pretty good at learning to understand other languages . It ’s also not that uncommon for humankind to have a passing understanding of Shriiwook , such asRey , and Dr. Kalonia , the adult female who piece up Chewie inThe Force Awakenswhile he regales her with possibly overblown state of war stories .
Peter Mayhew – More Than A Tall Guy In A Suit
Before stepping into the Chewbacca suit of clothes , Peter Mayhewhadn’t done much move . He had only a minor , un - credited role in the 1977 filmSinbad and the Eye of the Tiger , as the live - action double for a stop - motility Minotaur - alike automaton called Minoton . Mayhew ’s dandy height is the result of a life - threatening connective tissue paper upset have a go at it as Marfan Syndrome . But it ’s also the reason he landed the iconic role .
When Lucas walked into the audition room , Mayhew rose to greet him . As the 7’3 ” adult male towered over Lucas , the managing director said,“Hmm , I call back we ’ve find him . ”But it ’s not just his meridian that makes the actor ’s portrayal so memorable . Mayhew study monkeys , bears , and gorillas for ideas on how to move . His resulting idiosyncrasy were so distinctive , other cast members could always enjoin when it was n’t Mayhew in the wooing . They even had to trash footage that utilise a stand - in , because the actor could n’t convincingly play off Mayhew ’s movement .
David Prowse (Darth Vader) Almost Played Chewie
Before casting Peter Mayhew , George Lucas met with histrion David Prowse and gave him a pick between 2 roles : Chewbacca orDarth Vader . At 6’6 ” , Prowse would have been a spot short for a Wookiee . But , as a former championship body builder , he was otherwise quite physically qualified for the role . Prowse had a brace of other Big Guy roles under his belt , such asFrankenstein ’s Monsterand the bodyguard Hotblack Desiato from theHitchhiker ’s Guideminiseries .
But we ’ll never know on the dot how unlike Prowse ’s delineation of Chewbacca would have been , because , after careful condition , he blend with Vader . He was enamored with the character oncehe see the concept artand , as he explicate to Lucas,“Everyone think of the villain , George . ”
Chewie Finally Got His Medal
Fans have long lamented the snubbing of Chewbacca duringA New Hope ’s closing ceremony . Even though he , too , was instrumental in the wipeout of theDeath Star , Leia only hang medals around the neck of Luke and Han , leaving Chewie in the pitching . Why even fetch him on stage if he ’s not being honored ? As Luke and Han balance beam proudly in their finery , Chewbacca roars as if to say , “ YO ! WHAT render ? ”
Lucas later retconned an excuse for the snub , saying,“Medals really do n’t entail much to Wookiees . They do n’t really put too much credence in them . ”But Chewie seemed more than happy to accept when MTV made things decently at the 1997 Movie Awards , where Carrie Fisher presented Chewbacca ( with Peter Meyhew inside the costume ) with a Lifetime Achievement Award . Chewie even pay an espousal speech in Shriiiwook .
Chewie Has Retractable Claws
As is the display case with all adult Wookiees , shroud within Chewbacca ’s furred hands is a bent of needlelike , sinewy , retractable claws . Wookieesare still not that far removed from their more animalistic ancestors , who used the chela to go up Tree . Since the majority of abode on Kashyyyk have long been built in Tree , rise them would have been an all-important acquisition prior to the advent of stairs and ladders .
Wookiees may be capable to find non - crimson , modern employment for their vestigial claws ( they ’d be great for open a bundle or dice an onion plant ) , but they are expressly forbidden from wield them in any kind of combat . Anyone who disobey this mandate is dub “ Madclaws ” , and their offense resultant in banishment from Wookiee fellowship .
The Bowcaster Is Designed With Wookiees In Mind
Chewbacca wear naught but a bandolier and a grinning , but he rarely goes anywhere without his Bowcaster . This classifiable weapon is shaped like a crossbow , but shoots like ablaster . However , the Bowcaster is far more muscular than any common blaster . That ’s why Han Solo is so impressed when he in brief adopt Chewie ’s arm during the conflict on Takodana inThe Force Awakens .
It ’s strange that , after all their years together , Han had never tried it out before . But more surprising ( and impressive ) is that Han , at his sophisticated years , was able to wield it at all . Bowcasters are built by and project for Wookiees , with their pinnacle and frame in mind . It take keen strength to handle the weapon ’s herculean kickback and rapid bursts , let alone fire with any variety of truth .
Han And Chewie’s Meet Cute
We recognise from the films thatChewbacca and Han Solo are spirit cooperator , having flown the Millennium Falcon together for many old age . But the films never reveal how they satisfy and why they have such a strong bond . regrettably , the events are n’t canyon , and may presently be negate in 2018’sUntitled Han Solo Film , but it ’s still a merriment and quite sweet account .
In A.C. Crispin ’s 1997 novel , The Hutt Gambit , a young Chewbacca was capture by the Empire , and sentenced to death . fortuitously , the Imperial Navy police lieutenant regularize to carry out the carrying out wasnone other than Han Solo . LikeFN-2187years later , Solo had a crisis of conscience and defied the order , choose alternatively to justify Chewbacca and defect . Chewie swore a life sentence - debt to his Modern friend , and they started their life together as small business owners .
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