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Tag: Peter Mayhew

  • Harrison Ford Noncommittal Over Future of Han Solo, Excited About Reconnecting With Chewbacca

    Harrison Ford is Han Solo. He will forever be loved for the Star Wars character that has appeared in every one of the franchise’s films, and appears in the latest–Star Wars: The Force Awakens. During a recent interview with Digital Spy, however, the actor–who survived a plane crash earlier in 2015–seemed rather noncommittal over the future of his character.

    It was at the London premiere of The Force Awakens that Harrison Ford was asked if fans can expect to see more of Han Solo in future films.

    “You can expect anything you want,” he replied. “We’ll see.”

    Harrison Ford was over the moon excited about reuniting with his fellow cast mate Peter Mayhew, who plays the role of Chewbacca.

    “I was delighted. We had a great time working together and it was great to see him again,” Ford said.

    Whether Harrison Ford signs on or not, Lucasfilm and Disney are reportedly already developing a Star Wars prequel that will center on the early years of Han Solo.

    “He’ll definitely be probably in the high teens, low 20s,” Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy said. “We’re not introducing you to a 10-year-old Han Solo.”

    Harrison Ford was just 35 when he first played Han Solo. He is now 73.

    How might a prequel be filmed? Would someone else play the younger Han Solo? Could Harrison Ford even be a part of this prequel if he wanted to?

  • Peter Mayhew Returning For ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’ To Reprise Chewbacca Role

    After a decade of waiting, Star Wars fans all over the world will be able to enjoy their favorite sci-fi film franchise. According to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan F. Horn, Star Wars: Episode VII has already begun production and that majority of the cast members was set. The trio of new lead actors has yet to be revealed, although the original cast members – Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill – are said to be playing important roles in the movie. The most exciting news, however, is Peter Mayhew’s reprisal of his role as the massive Wookiee warrior Chewbacca.

    The 69-year-old English actor played Han Solo’s hairy co-pilot in the original Star Wars trilogy, starting with the 1977 film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Rumors of his participation in the new Star Wars film surfaced when he canceled a scheduled appearance at the Comicpalooza convention in Texas “due to filming”.

    Episode VII director J.J. Abrams had been very discreet about the casting details of the film prior to filming, although actress Carrie Fisher had been quoted several times regarding her appearance in the new film.

    Despite several rumors that Mayhew might be replaced with another actor in the Chewbacca role, the 7’3” actor addressed his fans by saying that he intends to reprise his iconic role for Episode VII. Mayhew has gone through double-knee replacement surgery in order to restore his ability to walk, after two years of being in a wheelchair.

    Star Wars: Episode VII is set to hit cinemas on December 18, 2015. A growing list of well-known actors have either auditioned for a role in the film or are heavily rumored to be part of it officially. English actor Benedict Cumberbatch, whom Abrams also directed in Star Trek Into Darkness, is reported to play the role of a Sith Lord in Episode VII, although there have also been rumors of a female Sith being introduced in the film.

    Image via Peter Mayhew, Twitter

  • Peter Mayhew Returns As Chewbacca For Star Wars Episode VII

    In yet another casting rumor that has become a reality, Peter Mayhew will be returning in the role of Chewbacca for Star Wars Episode VII. The film is due for a release in 2015, and continues to attract buzz almost on a daily basis.

    J.J. Abrams will be adding to the world of Star Wars with the latest addition, and while the last three films were highly criticized, he may now know what to avoid when making Star Wars Episode VII. Abrams has also had great success with the Star Trek films, in addition to his hit shows Lost and Alias.

    Peter Mayhew is perhaps the least well-known of the original cast members, but his character of Chewbacca was a beloved member of the original Star Wars trilogy, and the wookie that traveled with Harrison Ford’s Han Solo has inspired plenty of people to try to make his unique sound.

    In addition to the 69-year-old Mayhew, the original cast of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill have also been in talks to return for the 7th installment of the Star Wars franchise.

    Mayhew’s name also made headlines a few months ago when he tweeted some behind-the-scenes photos of the Star Wars actors that had never been seen before. It was a big deal for Star Wars fans, and the news that he will be returning as Chewbacca should get people even more excited for the new film.

    It was announced recently that Star Wars Episode VII would be taking place 30 years after the events of Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi, and just a couple of days ago, despite the cast not being complete yet, it was revealed that the film had already begun shooting.

    The film is set to feature new young lead roles, most of which have not been cast yet. The film has confirmed emerging star Adam Driver as an unnamed villiain, but the other characters are simply rumors.

    Jesse Plemons, known to most people as Todd from Breaking Bad, leads the crop of actors who might be chosen as the lead Jedi protagonist.

    In a whirlwind of news that continues to surround the upcoming release of Star Wars Episode VII, at least one additional concrete detail has been revealed. Are fans excited to see Peter Mayhew reprise his role of Chewbacca?

    Image via Twitter

  • ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’ May See Peter Mayhew Reprise His Role As Chewbacca

    Since the announcement of J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII, there has been assumptions about the return of some of the original cast members including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. Now, there are speculations about the lovable Wookiee, Peter Mayhew, joining the film.

    The 7’3” star is known for his role as Chewbacca in the Star Wars films. The rumors that he may be returning in the next film came after he cancelled his appearance at the Comicpalooza in Texas this coming May, due to filming commitments. Although there has been no official announcement regarding his participation in the upcoming film, there have already been reports that Abrams is slated to start filming in May.

    The possibility of Mayhew joining the cast may be a surprise to some, as he was hospitalized in September 2013 for a double knee replacement, which could be a hindrance for joining the film. Reports indicate that Mayhew admittedly said that the surgery was not a minor operation, but his recovery did not take long.

    According to Metro U.K, Abrams has yet to confirm the full cast of the movie at this point. He did say, however, that “lots of familiar faces” will be seen in the film. There have also been reports about casting unknown actors for the lead roles. Names have not popped up yet, but Abrams said that they are following the ’77 trend for the New Hope cast, as Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford were not big names when they were cast for their roles.

    If rumors are true, fans could see Mayhew back in his Chewbacca costume, or perhaps in another role. Fans just have to wait for the official announcement of all the cast members. Star Wars: Episode VII is set to hit theaters in December 18, 2015.

    Everybody Loves Chewbacca 

    Image via YouTube

  • Chewbacca: “Star Wars” Actor Kind Of Loved Leia

    Chewbacca has one of the most recognizable faces in the history of film; as the giant, furry, lovable Wookiee who always had Han Solo’s back, the character is one of the most beloved figures in film history. When the actor who portrayed him–Peter Mayhew–started tweeting out old photos from the set of the original films, “Star Wars” fans everywhere were treated to images from behind the scenes…including a whole lot of Princess Leia.

    Most male fans of the movies harbor a crush on Leia, and it’s clear that Mayhew wasn’t immune to her charms as they joked around on set and had a lot of touchy-feely playtime.

    Mayhew made headlines last summer when he was stopped at the airport on his way home from a comic con because of his cane, which is designed to look like a lightsaber.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Chewbacca Tweets Rare, Behind the Scenes Pictures From ‘Star Wars’

    Anyone who’s ever seen the hit film series Star Wars knows of the lovable, gentle and very hairy Chewbacca! Now the famous ‘Wookiee’ has made his way to Twitter – in the form of famed actor Peter Mayhew.  

    Mayhew is actually the man behind the Chewbacca mask. Now, he’s showing avid Star Wars enthusiasts what life was like behind the mask – and the scenes – of the classic space saga.

    On Tuesday, Mayhew took to Twitter and began posting a series of never-before-seen pictures of the Star Wars cast and production. The English actor, who goes by the screen name of @TheWookieeRoars, has posted more than 30 pictures from the film series.

    Mayhew’s images capture the cast and crew in a fascinating light, as he shares shots of the movie sets and actor transformations equipped with detailed, character costumes and make-up applications.

    He also gives viewers a glimpse of the actions as the cameras rolled to film.

    Pictures of studio props used to create the epic space settings for the film are also posted, along with comedic, candid moments that capture the camaraderie of the cast mates.

    Mayhew starred in four of the Star Wars film installments. Three of the films, which were apart of the original trilogy included Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983). Chewbacca’s character was also reprised in the 2005 film, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which is the sixth installment in the epic space opera series.

    Mayhew concluded his epic picture presentation on a comical note, posting a picture of his Star Wars co-star Billy Dee Williams in his younger days. However, his tweet with the picture was the most intriguing part. In a nutshell, he said that the pictures he posted aren’t even a drop in the bucket, as he has more than 1,200 rare Star Wars pictures in his collection.

    Image via Twitter | Peter Mayhew