Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2014/04/08/chewbacca_return_rumour/

Wookiee! CHEWIE'S BACK in Star Wars Ep VII – blab Hollywood 'sources'

Rumour mill suggests return of Peter Mayhew as Wookiee ally

By Brid-Aine Parnell

Posted in Legal, 8th April 2014 12:03 GMT

Whispers surrounding the mysterious newest instalment of the Star Wars franchise have hinted that actor Peter Mayhew may be onboard to reprise his role as Chewbacca.

Sources have told The Hollywood Reporter that the world's favourite Wookiee will be back for the new movie, the plot and characters of which have remained fairly tightly under wraps.

The rumours started with Mayhew cancelled an upcoming appearance at Comicpalooza, a convention in Texas, saying that he had to bow out "due to filming". The convention takes place towards the end of May, prompting fans to suggest he might be busy filming Episode VII of the now Disney-led franchise.

Disney Studios chairman said earlier this month that the filming had already started on the movie and most of the cast had been booked in.

While it's known that the latest instalment will feature a trio of new beautiful young leads, Disney and LucasFilm haven't said whether the roles were cast from open auditions or existing actors. Rumours/hopes have also swirled that Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill might be returning, particularly after a tease from the studio about "some very familiar faces" (please no Jar Jar, please no Jar Jar – Ed).

Girls star Adam Driver has also been mentioned more than once as a lock for a new villain in the film.

The movie is going to be set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, making it plausible that at least one of the fresh young faces will be the offspring of original stars Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker. ®