Peter Mayhew, the man behind Chewbacca, has passed away. His family confirmed his passing on May 2nd in a statement they released on social media.
Since his passing, fans have been sharing tributes all around the world. It’s hard to put to words what this man mean to us. But it’s worth a try.
George Lucas created Star Wars as a fantasy set in space. However, most of the main characters were human beings. Lucas wanted to add an “alien” character to remind the audience that this takes place in another galaxy. That’s where Chewbacca originated. Chewbacca was a Wookiee who did not speak English. He communicated with roars and grunts. Despite this, Chewbacca had so much personality that made him easy to understand and sympathize with. He was like a giant dog. He was cuddly, furry, fierce, and loyal.
The reason Chewbacca is like a dog is perhaps because George Lucas based Chewbacca off of his own dog, Indiana (why does that name sound familiar?). Lucas said his dog Indiana would sit with him whenever he wrote a script or whenever he drove in the car. She was his co-pilot. Just like how Chewbacca was Han Solo’s co-pilot.
But he was so much more than a pet. He was the voice of reason for Han. He helped keep Han on the straight and narrow. If Chewy hadn’t convinced Han to turn the Millennium Falcon around and help the Rebels in their assault on the Death Star, it is doubtful the Rebels would have succeeded. And the Galaxy would still be under the Empire’s rule.
After Han Solo’s tragic passing in The Force Awakens, Rey became the new captain of the Millennium Falcon. And Chewbacca remains the co-pilot. He remains as loyal and supportive to Rey as he was to Han. He helps take her to find Luke Skywalker, and he takes her to Kylo Ren. He’s always there to protect her, but he trusts her to make her own decisions. Rey spends The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi looking for her parents. But Chewbacca is the father figure she needs in her life.
Chewbacca was an animal. But he had this humanity. This soul. This heart. This warmth. That made him feel real.
That was Peter Mayhew. Lucas was looking for a tall person to play the Wookiee. Mayhew was given the role due to his incredible height.
Mayhew played Chewbacca in all three films in the Original Trilogy, briefly in Revenge of the Sith, and one more time in The Force Awakens before finally retiring from the role and passing the bowcaster to Joonas Sutaumo.
Chewbacca has managed to stay popular for four decades and has managed to be endearing for three generations of Star Wars fans.
While Sutaumo has done an amazing job portraying Chewbacca, it will always be Peter Mayhew’s role. It will always be his creation.
I’ve been a Star Wars fan since I was 10 years old. Chewbacca has always been one of my favorite characters.
In the Expanded Universe novels, long before Disney changed the canon, Chewbacca died by being crushed by a moon. When I heard of this, I cried. I cried as if a family member died. Even though this was a fictional character, he was real to me. And it’s because of the heart Peter Mayhew brought to him.
I met Peter Mayhew when I was 12 years old at Star Wars Celebration in Los Angeles. He could not have been kinder. Meeting him was a dream come true.
Years later, when The Force Awakens was filming, I sent him a friend request on Facebook. He accepted it.
During filming of The Force Awakens, Harrison Ford broke his leg on the Millennium Falcon.
When I started attending college, I auditioned for a couple of their plays. I sent Peter Mayhew asking him to wish me luck. And he replied “Good luck. I would say break a leg, but that’s what I told Harrison! LOL!”
Peter Mayhew loved his fans. He loved going to conventions to meet with fans and make their dreams come true. Right to the very end.
Chewbacca was cool. But Peter Mayhew was cooler.
Peter, thank you for everything. Thank you for showing your love and appreciation to your fans for so many years. Thank you for all the joy you’ve given us.
May the Force be with you, Chewbacca.
No comments:
Post a Comment