Chewbacca

Chewbacca
Star Wars character
First appearanceStar Wars (1977)
Created byGeorge Lucas
Portrayed by
In-universe information
SpeciesWookiee
GenderMale
OccupationCo-pilot and first mate on
Millennium Falcon
AffiliationRebel Alliance
Resistance
Family
  • Mallatobuck (wife)
  • Lumpawaroo (son)
  • Others in Legends
HomeworldKashyyyk

Chewbacca (/ˈbɑːkə/ choo-BAH-kə), nicknamed "Chewie", is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a Wookiee—a tall, hairy, highly intelligent species originating from the planet Kashyyyk. He is 7.5 feet (2.3 m) tall, and typically wears only a bandolier and a tool pouch. He carries a bowcaster, a traditional Wookiee weapon, and he speaks the Wookiee language Shyriiwook. He first appears in the original Star Wars film as the loyal friend of the smuggler Han Solo. He is also the co-pilot of Han's starship, the Millennium Falcon.

Chewbacca is portrayed by Peter Mayhew in the original film trilogy, the Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), and Revenge of the Sith (2005). Mayhew shares the Chewbacca role with his body double, Joonas Suotamo, in The Force Awakens (2015). Following Mayhew's retirement in 2017, Suotamo took over the role, appearing in The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Suotamo also plays Chewbacca in the standalone film Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). Chewbacca also appears in Star Wars animated series, novels, comics, and video games.