This is hardly news, but I do think it’s pretty cool director J.J. Abrams is bringing back the 7’3″ Peter Mayhew to play Chewbacca in Star Wars: Episode VII. There’s no word on just what exactly the character’s involvement in the story will be and I highly doubt it’s going to be a major action-based performance, but to give Mayhew the chance to play the Wookiee once again is a nice nod to his involvement in the original trilogy, beginning with Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope in 1977 as well as in 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
THR brings the news noting Mayhew had to cancel a convention appearance taking place on May 23-26 “due to filming”. The filming in question is now clear.
This makes Mayhew the first actor from the original cast confirmed to star in the new feature. Carrie Fisher has been quite vocal about her involvement and it’s assumed both Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford will be back, but as I noted filming had already begun on the seventh film in the franchise, we are still waiting for an official cast announcement, which seems to be coming any time.
Star Wars: Episode VII is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2015.
