The New York Times revealed this morning that the season finale of The Clone Wars will be a two part episode arc featuring none other than Chewbacca the Wookiee, Han Solo’s first mate and one of two Wookiee’s responsible for aiding Yoda in his escape from Kashyyyk in the aftermath of Order 66.
Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in all 4 films that featured the character (as well as in The Holiday Special and on The Muppet Show), was also invited to give the animators an insight into what it takes to bring everyone’s favorite walking carpet to life.
From the New York Times article:
Though Lucasfilm Animation is keeping specific plot details under wraps, the “Clone Wars” finale, scheduled for April 1, will see Chewbacca cross paths with Ahsoka Tano, the Jedi apprentice to Anakin Skywalker (a k a the future Darth Vader). To prepare for these episodes, titled “Padawan Lost” and “Wookiee Hunt,” the “Clone Wars” supervising director Dave Filoni and his team of animators and artists delved into the Lucasfilm archives for original Chewbacca reference materials and costumes, and invited Mr. Mayhew to their studios in Marin County, north of San Francisco, to advise them on the process of bringing Chewie to digital life
This begs a number of questions. Will we see Chewbacca interact with Yoda once more? If you remember closely, in Revenge of the Sith (which happens after the events portrayed in The Clone Wars) Grand Master Yoda mentions his good relations with the Wookiees and Chewbacca is seen closely guarding him throughout his entire stay on the Wookiee homeworld.
Will we see that backstory play out?
It also says much about Chewbacca’s role in the galaxy and the wider conflict. Some have opined that Chewbacca was actually a secret Republic spy (using Artoo as his contact) during the Dark Times. Will we see the seeds of that theory grow into something more tangible?
And I know I’ve harped on this clue more than once, but at Star Wars Celebration V, Filoni dropped a hint that there would be an episode that drew inspiration from Predator. And if the season finale is called “Wookiee Hunt”, could there be a more fitting homage to one of the best science fiction thrillers ever made?
Only time will tell.
In the meantime, the New York Times has a clip of Chewbacca’s appearance (to Ahsoka of all people). I love the music cues in the piece. They’re taken straight from Ben Kenobi’s reveal in A New Hope.
Very excellent stuff.
The season finale of The Clone Wars airs April 1st.