Leave it to Buzzfeed to provide the mosthorrifyingphoto of the day. No one dies in this photo. There is no blood or guts, or disgusting acts of filth. No, this photo shows something much worse. And it could give you nightmares. Be warned, once you’ve seenChewbaccawithout hair, there is no unseeing it!
Played byPeter Mayhew, Chewbacca made his first appearance on the big screen in 1977’sStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. He will return, again played byPeter Mayhew, in this December’s highly anticipatedStar Wars: The Force Awakens. And his appearance on that set for the first time is actually what inspired some mad artist to create what you see before you.
Chewbacca hasn’t been seen since 2005’sStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, where he had a cameo starring alongside Yoda. So, after a ten year absence, of course people, even those working closely beside him, were going to be excited to see the galaxy’s most famous wookie return. The cast and crew ofStar Wars: The Force Awakenswere so excited, in fact, they almost pulled all ofHan Solo’s best friend’s hair out.
DirectorJ.J. Abramsexplained that everyone who met Chewy wanted to hug him. But it happened so often, the big furry oaf’s hair began to literally fall out. The costume department came to the rescue, and were always on hand to thread fur back intoPeter Mayhew’s legendary costume. About the whole amazing, and somewhat agonizing process,J.J. Abramshad this to say toET Online.
“You can’t deny Chewbacca. Whoever would visit the set or be there, even some extras, before the day was over they would go over and embrace Chewbacca. It was an ongoing thing, and one of the casualties was patches of hair on the suit.”
As you probably know by now, neo-cult icon and one ofJ.J. Abrams’s best friends,Simon Pegg, has a role inStar Wars: The Force Awakens. Though you won’t be able to immediately identify him, as his head is covered with a mask. He also helped out in the writers' room, offering insight when needed. He, too, was overcome by the sight of seeing Chewbacca on set for the first time. He explains.
“I think hugging Chewbacca was probably the most extraordinary moment in my life.”
The hugging will probably stop if Chewbacca ever succumbs to Alopecia. All that hugging caused some incredibly time-consuming repairs at a constant rate. The costumers are said to have spent ‘weeks at a time’ punching in ‘one hair at a time’.Peter Mayhew’s costume stands at over 7 feet tall. The record holder for Chewbacca hugs, and possibly the one to blame for the most damage isStar Wars: The Force AwakensstarJohn Boyega, who playsFinn. He claims to have hugged thewookiea whopping 1,236 times! So Finn is the one responsible for this nightmare we see below?
