Chewbacca/Legends

"Can somebody get this big walking carpet out of my way?"

- Leia

Chewbacca  (or "Chewie") was a Wookiee from Kashyyyk and co-pilot of Han Solo's ship, the Millennium Falcon. He was the son of Attichitcuk, the husband of Mallatobuck, and the father of Lumpawaroo. Chewbacca carried with him the name of an ancient Wookiee hero, the great Bacca, first of the great chieftains of Kashyyyk, and the creator of a sword that denoted leadership among the Wookiees. This name placed Chewbacca in a noble lineage, which was further supported by his role in the Battle of Kashyyyk.

Chewbacca was a wise, sophisticated being of great strength and loyalty. He was also a skilled mechanic. Chewbacca, like many Wookiees, was able to understand Basic, but he could not speak it due to his species' vocal structure. He instead spoke Shyriiwook, the Wookiee language that is largely composed of growls and grunts, to his human companions who typically replied in Basic.

Early life (c. 200 BBY to 19 BBY)
Chewbacca was born on Kashyyyk circa 200 BBY, the son of Attichitcuk. During his early years Chewbacca lived on Kashyyyk, but unlike many other Wookiees who rarely left the planet's lush forests, Chewbacca was consumed by an overpowering sense of adventure and exploration. Chewie's first travels were to the remote and dangerous lower levels of Kashyyyk's immense forests, the Shadowlands. It was not long before his travels took him far from the confines of his green homeworld. His heart, however, remained on Kashyyyk, and Chewie would always try to make it home for the holidays.

As he reached adulthood, he married Mallatobuck, and fathered a son named Lumpawarrump. He lived with his family in Rwookrrorro. Chewie and his father were responsible for the creation of many villages on Kashyyyk in the decades before the Battle of Naboo and both of them participated in the colonization of Alaris Prime, where they faced the Trade Federation for control of the moon. Notably, during this time Chewbacca had his first recorded encounter with Jedi&mdash;as Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi had been assigned by the Galactic Republic to end the conflict on Alaris Prime.

During the Clone Wars, Chewbacca was a leading member of the Wookiee resistance to the Confederacy of Independent Systems. He was a major player in the Battle of Kashyyyk, overseeing the confrontation between the Grand Army of the Republic's 41st Elite Corps and the invading droid forces alongside Tarfful and Jedi General Yoda. Following the implementation of Order 66, Chewbacca helped Yoda elude the Clone Troopers and escape from the planet.

Shortly after the Battle of Kashyyyk, Chewbacca was called upon by a former trader and Wookie representative, Cudgel, to aid a small band of renegade Jedi led by Olee Starstone in their search for any other survivors after Order 66. The rescue operation proved unsuccessful, however, as the Empire tracked the fleeing Jedi to Kashyyyk and began their assault to capture them. The Wookies, still haunted by the aftermath from their battle with the Seperatists only a week before, resumed fighting to defend their homes from the Imperial onslaught. The tide had been turned over to the Empire with the unexpected arrival of Darth Vader, who wasted no time in slaughtering whatever stood in his path between himself and the missing Jedi.

Vader orders one of the orbiting Star Destroyers to bombard Kashyyyk with repetitive turbolaser fire, laying waste to the surrounding cities while he searches for the remaining fugitives. In an attempt to help his comrades escape, Roan Shryne, one of the remaining Jedi who had encountered Vader before during the execution of Order 66, faces off with Vader alone while the others attempt to flee. Chewbacca assists Olee, a small group of smugglers, and several of those wounded in battle to their escape, claiming he would be "More helpful to Kashyyyk as a fugitive, not a captive".

Life under the Empire (19 BBY to 4 ABY)
When Chewbacca rescued Yoda, he became an enemy of the Republic. The Republic turned into the Galactic Empire and enslaved the denizens of Kashyyyk. Chewbacca often worked to free Wookiees who had been captured by either the Empire or Trandoshan slavers. On one such endeavor, he became involved in a botched slave transfer between a Trandoshan crew and an Imperial commander named Nyklas. After Chewbacca orchestrated the escape of most of the slaves, Nyklas was infuriated and ordered a young officer named Han Solo to kill the Wookiee (who had been rendered unconscious), Solo refused and was drummed out of Imperial service. "Chewie", as Solo affectionately called him, became the Corellian's close companion as a smuggler, standing beside him until his death, partly out of friendship, and partly as a result of his life debt to Solo.

Bonded to Solo, Chewbacca accompanied him on several misadventures. On one such, the Wookiee was captured and taken to Stars' End, a hidden Corporate Sector prison, where he was quickly rescued from. The years went on as Chewbacca accompanied Solo on treasure hunts and spice runs. The first run was notable because, in the Millennium Falcon, the two made the Kessel Run in less then twelve parsecs. The second attempt was less successful, resulting in the dumping of a spice shipment. This landed Han with a heavy bounty on his head placed by the notorious Jabba the Hutt, the crime lord who had sent Han on his shipment.

It was Chewbacca that Obi-Wan Kenobi spoke to in Chalmun's Cantina when in search of transportation to Alderaan. It is not known whether the Wookiee recognized Kenobi from their time on Alaris Prime or if Chewbacca's friendship with Yoda during the Clone Wars influenced the decision to help the Jedi. Regardless, Chewbacca introduced the aged Jedi Master and his young companion to Han Solo and soon the pair bought passage on the Falcon.

Chewbacca participated in Leia Organa's rescue from the Death Star and the subsequent Battle of Yavin. Princess Leia initially disliked Chewbacca as much as she disdained Han and called him a "walking carpet," but the friendship between the two grew over time.

A short while after the destruction of the Death Star, Chewbacca and Han left for the celebration of Life Day on Kashyyyk. It served as a short break between the periodical fighting.

While with the Rebel Alliance on the Ice Planet of Hoth, Chewbacca was busy repairing the Falcon. Unfortunately, Chewbacca was unable to finish his work due to the Imperial invasion of Echo Base and so the Falcon was forced to take off with Han Solo, Princess Leia, and C-3PO while in disrepair and so while on the run from the Imperial Fleet, the Falcon set down in an asteroid cavern for repairs.

When the cavern was discovered to be a giant slug, the Falcon made it's escape to Bespin. On Bespin, the group met with Lando Calrissian. When C-3PO was blasted apart and gone missing, Chewbacca sent himself off with the task of finding the missing protocol droid. Chewbacca eventually found him in a junk pile and after a scuffle with some Ugnaught workers, brought him back to Princess Leia and Han Solo. However, Chewbacca did not have the time to repair C-3PO. They were all captured by Darth Vader. During their capture, Chewbacca was sealed in a room with high-pitch alarms going off, subduing him and calming him. C-3PO's parts were brought to Chewbacca and he began rebuilding the droid. When all but his legs were reattached (although his head was placed backwards), he was brought to the carbonite freezing chamber with Leia, Han, and C-3PO (hanging from a pack on Chewbacca). Han Solo was to be frozen as test for Luke Skywalker. Before he was frozen, Chewbacca had thrown several Stormtroopers off the platform but was quickly cuffed. Han entrusted Chewbacca in taking care of Leia. With a loud howl, Han Solo was frozen—alive, but in hibernation.

While being escorted to Darth Vader's shuttle by Imperial stormtroopers, Chewbacca, Leia and Lando were released from their captors by Bespin Security Guards led by Lobot. Released from his bindings, Chewbacca grabbed hold of Lando's throat and began to strangle him. Leia was able to get the location of Han Solo's frozen body to the East Platform. Chewbacca let go of Lando and left him gasping for breath on the floor with C-3PO apologizing for the Wookiee's behavior.

However, Leia and Chewbacca did not make it to the platform before Boba Fett made off with Han Solo. With that, a pursuit ensued in the Cloud City corridors with stormtroopers. Joined by R2-D2, Leia, Lando, and Chewbacca eventually made their way back to the Millennium Falcon. When escaping the city, Leia received a telepathic call for help from Luke and commanded Chewbacca to turn the ship around. After rescuing Luke, the Falcon left the planet behind. While attempting to escape the Executor over Bespin, the supposed repaired hyperdrive failed and Chewbacca was once again forced to fix it. However, R2-D2 quickly activated it and the Falcon escaped to the Rebellion rendezvous point. Chewbacca and Lando would then start their search for Boba Fett and Han Solo.

Chewbacca joined Organa and Solo in the terrestrial portion of the Battle of Endor, during which he distinguished himself fighting in terrain similar to that of his homeworld. He and two native Ewoks hijacked an AT-ST, helping the Alliance secure their victory on the forest moon.

Hero of the New Republic (4 ABY to 25 ABY)
Chewbacca remained with Han well after his marriage to Leia. In fact, when Leia was being hunted by the mysterious Noghri, Chewbacca brought the former Princess to his homeplanet of Kashyyyk. The plan didn't hold up long but Leia was able to make peace with one of her assailants.

Chewbacca's original life debt to Han now included Leia, her brother, and her children. He was seen as an uncle-like figure by the Solo children and took care of them along with C-3PO and R2-D2 when Han and Leia were away. Chewbacca was known to protect the Solo children rather fiercely as though they were his own children.

During the Black Fleet crisis, Chewbacca went home to Kashyyyk to attend the coming of age of his son Lumpawarrump. After Han Solo was kidnapped in his absense by the Yevethans, Chewbacca staged a rescue from the Super Star Destroyer Pride of Yevetha with the help of his son and his cousins Jowdrrl, Shoran, and Dryanta. This was a coming of age for Lumpawarrump, and he was renamed Lumpawaroo as he became an adult. Chewbacca's nephew Lowbacca (Lowie) was a close friend of the Solo children. Twenty years after the founding of the New Republic, Chewbacca, Han Solo and his youngest son Anakin were sent by Lando Calrissian to pick up a shipment on Sernpidal. When they arrived, they discovered that the planet's moon Dobido was orbiting its host quickly, dropping closer to Sernpidal at regular intervals. Anakin calculated Dobido would collide with Sernpidal in seven hours' time. This event, unbeknownst to them, was a result of the Yuuzhan Vong tactic, Yo'gand's Core.

Chewbacca and the Solos landed on Sernpidal and evacuated as many people as they could, managing to rescue millions of Sernpidalians, using both Millennium Falcon and various other available freighters. As the winds picked up, Anakin was knocked into the distance, causing Chewie to run after him. Chewie was able to bring Anakin to safety on the Falcon, but another blast of wind knocked him directly into the path of Dobido. Anakin, who had piloted the Falcon while his father stood on the entrance ramp hoping to lift Chewie up, flew from Sernpidal when he realized it was too late to save Chewie. The Wookiee stood in the moon's trajectory, howling defiantly, and was crushed to death with those Sernpidalians who could not escape. His death drove Han to a resentment of his Anakin as well as alcoholism. Han eventually recovered and forgave his son, but the death of his battle-brother and dearest companion would stick with him forever.

Honoring the Legacy (25 ABY—)
After his death, Chewbacca became a legend on Kashyyyk, and the droid C-3PO recited his tale on occasions. With the end of the Yuuzhan Vong War, Lumpawaroo and Lowbacca, Chewbacca's son and nephew, vowed to take up his life-debt to Han Solo. Han again visited the tree memorial of Chewbacca and stabbed Anakin Solo's lightsaber deep into the tree, so that anyone who would need it in the future could use it. The Trandoshan, Bossk, had other thoughts. He couldn't help but to rub Chewbacca's death in Han Solo's Face. Both ended up in a fistfight. In the end, Bossk got a broken snout. Wookiees would take pride in the fact that he died honoring his life debt...as well as the fact that only a moon could kill him.

Behind the scenes


Chewbacca was portrayed by the 7'3" (2.21 meters) tall Peter Mayhew in Episodes III to VI. He was based on Indiana, a dog owned by George Lucas, which would later be the inspiration for Indiana Jones. For his appearances in the Original Trilogy, the Chewie suit, designed by Stuart Freeborn, was made out of knitted mohair (made from goat and rabbit hair) and yak hair. It would later be used and retouched during the making of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace for Senator Yarua. For his appearance in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Chewbacca was completely remade, with newer, more efficient and cost-effective materials; Peter Mayhew's portrayal took only a day of shooting.

The memorable voice of Chewbacca was designed by Ben Burtt, sound designer for all six films. He mixed together various growls from the animal kingdom for different emotions, including walruses, bears, tigers, camels and even badgers. The most prominent of these voices was a black bear named Tarik, who died of congestive heart failure in 1994.

In 1997, Chewbacca appeared on the MTV Movie Awards and, as recompense for not receiving a medal during the closing sequence of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, was given a medal by Carrie Fisher, who played Leia Organa throughout the original trilogy.

In the 1997 novel The Hutt Gambit, Chewbacca says that he hasn't seen Mallatobuck for 50 years (since 55 BBY). It is unknown why he hadn't found time to visit her before the Battle of Kashyyyk.

In 1999, Chewbacca became the first major character in the Star Wars films to be killed off in the Expanded Universe, when R.A. Salvatore's Vector Prime, the first entry in the New Jedi Order series, depicted him being crushed by Dobido, one of two moons of Sernpidal. Chewbacca's death was more painful then many know, he was burnt by the moons's atmoshpere before the moon touched the planet. This caused resentment among some fans despite the fact that the idea originated with Randy Stradley, well before Salvatore was even signed on to the series. If it weren't for the great honor and drama in which he died, it is quite possible that many fans would have boycotted the series until his death was retconned.

Chewie's name is based on the Russian word for "dog," "собака" (Sobaka).

Chewbacca has made an impact on American culture also, often being referenced as a joke. The most notable example of the is the South Park episode in which Johhny Cochran uses the "Chewbacca defense".

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Republic: The Hidden Enemy
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * The Hutt Gambit
 * Rebel Dawn
 * Empire at War
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Empire 13: What Sin Loyalty?
 * Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina
 * The Day After the Death Star
 * Star Wars 3-D
 * Allegiance
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Star Wars Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Shadows of the Empire
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Tales from Jabba's Palace
 * The Truce at Bakura
 * Marvel Star Wars
 * Shadows of the Empire: Evolution
 * The Glove of Darth Vader
 * X-wing: Solo Command
 * The Courtship of Princess Leia
 * A Forest Apart
 * Tatooine Ghost
 * Heir to the Empire
 * Dark Force Rising
 * The Last Command
 * Dark Empire
 * Jedi Search
 * Dark Apprentice
 * Champions of the Force
 * Darksaber
 * Planet of Twilight
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * The Crystal Star
 * Before the Storm
 * Shield of Lies
 * Tyrant's Test
 * Union
 * Vector Prime
 * Chewbacca

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: Revenge of the Brick
 * Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Infinities: Return of the Jedi
 * Return of the Ewok
 * Star Wars Muppet Show episode