"The Wookiees, although primitive compared to us, are surprisingly capable warriors. They're pretty strong, and pick up combat techniques pretty quickly."
TheWookiees, whose name for themselves translated to thePeople of the Trees, were a species of tall,hairyhumanoids that were inhabitants of theplanetKashyyyk. One of the most noteworthy members of the species wasChewbacca,Han Solo's best friend and co-pilot; who played a vital role in theGalactic Civil War and afterwards. A race of arborealmammals, the Wookiees lived in treehouses nestled in the canopy of the toweringwroshyr trees. Despite their fearsome appearance, they were usually gentle, although they were prone to devastating fits of rage when provoked.
A race of towering,hairy bipeds, the Wookiees were one of the most recognizablespecies inthe galaxy. They were renowned for their great strength, their intelligence, their loyalty and their short temper.[19] Due to their appearance, they were sometimes referred to as "walking carpets."[18]
Physiology[]
"I didn't realize Wookiees had claws like those. Though I suppose I should have. Youare arboreal, after all."
The Wookiees of the jungleplanetKashyyyk were shaggysentient beings whose countenance was considered impressive by many other species.[21] They werehumanoid, with a head, a torso, and fourlimbs, and they stood 2.1meters on average.[1] Their upper limbs, or arms, ended with hands[8] sporting four fingers plus an opposable thumb that allowed them to grab things.[22] Being a species of tree climbers, Wookiees had a strong back, dexterous hands and thick calf muscles.[23] For the same evolutionary reasons, they also possessed curved retractable claws that sprouted from hidden sheaths in their fingertips with the flex of a muscle.[24] Their heads featured a pair of forward-facingeyes, thecolor of which ranged from blue[8] to brown,[12] with some individuals having green,[9] yellow,[10]golden,[11] or red irises.[13] The Wookiees'nose was very sensitive[8] and would provoke some sort of olfactory delirium in the presence of meat.[25] Theirmouths were filled with sharpfangs that could puncture even the durable scaly skin of theTrandoshans, their ancestral enemies. The Wookiees were also good swimmers, which was reflected by their powerful thighs.[23]
But their most striking physical feature in the eyes of the non-Wookiees was their uniform coat ofwater-sheddinghair,[23] the color of which ranged from black to brown according to the subspecies. In fact, the word "Wookiee" was a catch-all term referring to a number of related races that could be distinguished primarily by their fur.[7] The most common subspecies were theRwooks, who came from the region ofRwookrrorro and whose hair was typically brown, red, and chestnut.[3] Although albino Wookiees were rare, they were not unheard of. However, such a birth was generally held to be a bad omen, as white hair did not blend in with the earth tones of their forest surroundings.[26]
An adult Wookiee female
They breathedoxygen from Kashyyyk's atmosphere through theirlungs, and were among the variety of species that could developasthma.[27] Their immense lung capacity allowed them to blow theirKashyyyk clarions, a feat that a Human could not accomplish.[23] The Wookiees were also susceptible to theBlackwing virus, an infectious viral agent that attacked biological tissue and transformed its victims intozombies.[28]
The Wookiee's natural habitat was the canopy of thewroshyr trees. Those towering vegetals existed in over 1,000 different varieties, most of which reachedkilometers in height,[16] while some only attained 300–400 meters.[29] Wookiee families lived in treehouses nestled in the crowns of the wroshyrs. Those dwellings often consisted of circular structures of unpainted wood mounted around the tree trunks, sometimes with several stories and a veranda.[30] The most luxurious and elaborate houses were built directly into the trees. Villages were held up by branches only, without the help ofrepulsorlifts or any other modern technology.[20]
Like many other humanoids, the Wookiees had twosexes, male and female. Female Wookiees had sixbreasts.[7] During the course of maturation, the individual would grow to about 2 meters,[21] with exceptionally tall individuals attaining 2.3 meters.[31] However, cases ofnanism were rumored to exist,[32] and very old Wookiees tended to shrink, becoming as short as 1.70 meters.[12]
Life cycle[]
Wookiees were long-lived, with a lifespan of severalstandard centuries. While they outlived many other beings, the Wookiees did not live as long as other species[23] such as the millennialGen'Dai.[33] Infant Wookiees would remain in thenursery rings, where they learned how to interact within their society and were taught to appreciate Kashyyyk's wildlife. At the end of each school day, the parents would take their pups home so they could create and maintain a sense of family. Later in life, the children would stay home full time with the rest of their kin, and were given their first responsibilities in life in the form of housekeeping chores.[16]
Around the age of twelve, the males would perform an initiation ritual that made them enter young adulthood. In most parts of Kashyyyk, incumbents to the coming-of-age ritual had to gather silk fibers from the center of a carnivoroussyren plant.[16] In other regions of the planet, young males took theTest of Ascension, known ashrrtayyk in Wookieespeak.[34] During that ceremony, the youth was expected to unlock hisrrakktorr, or inner strength,[17] by learning how to survive in the KashyyykianShadowlands, the dangerous ground level of the forests.[34]
From the age of 18, the Wookiees were viewed as full-fledged adults,[14] and were considered in their prime around the age of 200.[8]Throughout this lengthy period, Wookiees were expected to embrace a career and find a regular source of income so they could marry and found a family of their own.[16] Subsequently, Wookiees were qualified as "middle-aged" by 301–350, "old" by 351–399 and "venerable" at 400.[14] Elderly Wookiees were normally cared for and admired for their accumulated wisdom.[16]
Behavior[]
"That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their socket when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."
Wookiees were usually calm, gentle and mild-mannered, but not when they were provoked. They were also known to be sore losers. A Wookiee who lost a bet, or a game, might have torn off the limbs of the person who beat them. It was usually considered wise to avoid upsetting them.
Society and culture[]
Status[]
Three generations of Wookiees in Chewbacca's family
Wookieemarriage was based on sexual monogamy. Once married, the couple mated for life and would usually raise two or three pups,[1] although there was no firm rule on that matter: the famousChewbacca himself begat an only child,Lumpawaroo. It was uncontroversial for a Wookiee father to leave the planet for long periods oftime and entrust the education of their offspring to their mate and older kinsmen.[15] The Wookiee society was a patriarchal one, with a complex lineage structure.[21] Nuclear families were regrouped in clanic structures, and a system of inter-clan alliances and enmities existed.[26]
Wookiees greatly valued honor and loyalty. Therefore, their notion of "family" encompassed much more than justblood ties. A part of that most sacred tradition was the social institution oflife debt: when a Wookiee's life was saved by someone else, regardless of the species, they would frequently devote themselves to a lifetime of service to their savior and their family. Through the mechanism of the life debt, the People of the Trees used to develop unbreakable bonds with their boon companions and true friends, forming a "honor family."[24]
As regardspolitics, the numerous cities scattered across the surface of Kashyyyk were each led by aChieftain,[10] who oversaw the civil and military matters of his community.[23] Those Chieftains, also referred to as Elders, occupied a high position at the local scale, and they were entitled to cancel the celebration of sacred holidays.[35] At planetary level, the entire world was ruled over by aKing coming from apatricianfamily and whose court was held at theRoyal City. One of the Wookiee monarch's roles was to determine Kashyyyk's stance in time of interplanetary war.[36] When theGalactic Republic still existed, and Kashyyyk was part of it, the Wookiees were represented before theGalactic Senate on the planetCoruscant. The Wookieesenator was aided in his duties by a staff of Elders who took meetings with him in theSenate Tower.[37]
Diet[]
"Take my advice, kid. Wookiees know how to make homebrew that will put a human on the floor in minutes. I'm sticking to gorimn wine and Gralinyn juice."
The People of the Trees wereomnivores. While they were perfectly capable of gathering wildplants[7] (like thewasaka berries[15]) or even cultivating domesticated varieties (such as the onion-likechyntuck), their lives in the canopy of Kashyyyk prompted them to consume essentially meat.[7] Wookiee cuisine relied heavily on spices. Because of this, many dishes were not suitable forHumans as they could damage their gullet andstomach. Like many other species, Wookiees consumed potentalcohol-based beverages, including theaccarragm, thecortyg brandy, thegarrmorl, thegrakkyn, and theThikkiian brandy. Those spirits were too strong for Humans, who would become severely intoxicated after consuming them.[3]
Technology and trade[]
Wookiees were skilled mechanics.
From an early age, Wookiees were trained to use their dexterous hands for carving. They would learn to fashion everyday objects such as tools, musical instruments and household items.[23] Some would also carvewooden toys, either as gifts for their younglings or just for leisure.[30] An old saying stated: "Give a Wookiee a knife and send him into a forest in the morning, and by evening he would have carved you a table to eat dinner on—and a house to put it in."[27] Whereas some outsiders qualified their works as art, the Wookiees viewed their innate talents as mere survival skills, and they had no word for "artist" in their various languages.[23]
While they appeared to have a lowtechnology level to outsiders, the Wookiees were in fact quite comfortable with modern technology.[24] In fact, their ability to fuse modern conveniences and natural resources was second to none. They could easily mend and maintain modern starcrafts, and were even known to effect temporary repairs ofhyperdrives with pieces of hardwood.[23] The wood of the wroshyr tree was so flexible and strong that it could be used to buildstarship hulls—although in conjunction withdeflector shield skins.[38]
Throughout history, the outstanding technical ingenuity of the Wookiees aroused covetousness. Additionally, while distant from Coruscant, Kashyyyk was close tohyperspaceroutes[23] known only to theClaatuvac Guild, a group of Wookieecartographers andnavigators whose knowledge was a source of envy.[39]
Combat and war[]
"I suggest a new strategy, Artoo: Let the Wookiee win."
A Wookiee warrior armed with a bowcaster and a blaster
Unlike other species like the neighboring Trandoshans[40] or theYinchorri,[41] the Wookiees were not warlike. When peaceful, they had the reputation of being gentle and benevolent. However, their tempers were fiery, and an infuriated Wookiee could erupt in a fit of berserker rage that only ceased when the source of their anger was damaged to their satisfaction.[21] Though they were feared as opponents, Wookiees did not use any well-defined style when fightingunarmed. To outsiders, it seemed they simply charged forward, swinging their arms and crushing their targets with their massive fists.[24] That reputation did not stop the WookieeRrawkee from starting awrestling academy on the world ofCularin during theClone Wars.[42] Even more terribly, Wookiees also had the justified reputation of ripping the arms of their enemies out of their sockets, which was known to occur in instances of losing a game. That state of racial rage served as the basis of thedeal-slang expression "wookinate," which referred to the rendering harmless an enemy using excessive force—obviously referring to the great physical strength that provided the essence of Wookiee combat.[43] In addition, an exhausted Wookiee could be considered even more dangerous in a fight than a fully rested one.[44] Solo at one point when writing notes in theImperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide implied that Wookiees had enough physical strength to rip a stormtrooper's head off even while the helmet was latched on.[45]
However, despite their great physical strength and ferocious tempers,[24] the Wookiees were not willing to fight for trivial pretexts. When arguing in public, two Wookiees would engage into a duel of stomping and posturing. Whichever of the two fighters made the strongest impression was considered to have won the argument. Still, the influence of the crowd taking sides would sometimes infuriate the contenders, turning the otherwise harmless stomping competition into a real fight.[35] Even when engaging in real combat, the Wookiees held true to their code of honor, under which claws were never to be used for fighting. A Wookiee who used his or her claws for combat would be labeled a "madclaw" andexiled.[46] Some were also charged by tradition of killing those members of their kind that engaged in the practice of using their claws in combat, as the act dishonored their race.[47]
Contrary to their rudimentary methods of hand-to-hand combat, the Wookiees used their craft to produce unique quality weapons. They typically eschewed standardblasters andgrenades in favor of bladed weapons, such asryyk blades.[48] Their trademark, however, was the powerfulbowcasters—acrossbow-like, single-fire weapon, which physically weaker species could not use effectively.[49]
The Wookiees spoke an array of dialects collectively known asWookiee language, all of which consisted in a combination of barks, roars, moans and growls. The most common wasShyriiwook, often nicknamed Wookieespeak in Basic, the literal meaning of which was tongue of the tree people. As a trade language, Shyriiwook was the most well-known Wookiee dialect outside Kashyyyk, and most strangers assumed that there was only one Wookiee tongue. Other known dialects wereXaczik, spoken on theWartaki Islands,[3] andThykarann, which was richer in technical vocabulary.[17] The construction of their vocal apparatus, however, prevented the Wookiees from speakingGalactic Basic Standard, or any other language that involved a high degree of vocal nuance. Nevertheless, they were quick learners and could easily grasp the various foreign languages they encountered.[50]
History[]
Early history[]
"But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid." "That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that."
The Wookiees were largely believed to have originated from the planetKashyyyk, which was part of theKashyyyk system in theMytaranor sector of theMid Rim. However, various pieces of lore had different versions on how they became the dominant species of their world. According to Wookiee legend, the first Wookiees on Kashyyyk were visitors, either in the form of pioneers or refugees. Their own records were vague on the subject and they rarely spoke on this topic. Conventional wisdom held the view that the Wookiees were simply the most capable climbers in a hostile ecosystem that was full of predators. Their capacity to move higher up the trees allowed them to avoid their natural predators helping them to not only survive but even evolve further. Despite either view, no records suggested that there was ever a time when the Wookiees did not populate the surface of Kashyyyk.[16] Some reports indicated that Wookiees evolved on their homeworld around2,000,000 BBY where they established dominance in their ecosystem as climbers of the wroshyr trees.[1]
Their world was one of the many planets that fell under the dominion of theInfinite Empire and its surface was terraformed by theRakata for agricultural purposes. However, the collapse of their empire left the machines unattended and resulted in the abnormally large foliage with it being theorized that these machines led to the accelerated evolution of various native species.[51] During the reign of the Infinite Empire, a number of Wookiees were taken from their homeworld and transported to theRakatan Archipelago where slaves populated worlds such asMalata. Inbreeding amongst these slaves led to sickly genetic deformities with the Wookiees of Malata displaying a stoop-shouldered, hairless form with long front incisors used to gnaw timber thickets.[52]
Following theGreat Sith War, the planet Kashyyyk was discovered by theCzerka Corporation whose investments into the Galactic Republic's rebuilding program led to the Galactic Senate awarding them this world. This was under the justification that they had discovered the planet and thus were the rightful owners of it. After occupying Kashyyyk, Czerka declared that that there were no sentient inhabitants to Kashyyyk and ignored the native inhabitant's designation of the planet.[53] They named the planet first "G5-623" and then, after a poll of stockholders, "Edean."[51] Once they took control, the corporation went against the wishes of the Wookiees and even began allowing slavers to hold a free reign over the native inhabitants. As the planet was deemed to hold little value, it escaped the devastation of theMandalorian Wars and theJedi Civil War with only Czerka maintaining control over it. Their occupation was brutal and oppressive with the company treating the Wookiees as less than sentient whilst exploiting the world's native population and resources in order to gain profit.[53] The corporation further ensured its foothold on the populace by making use of collaborators amongst the Wookiees and managed to get the support ofChuundar, who had risen to the position of Chieftain. Czerka control of "Edean" was disrupted when, in3956 BBY, the enslaved Wookiee populaceoverthrew the local corporate headquarters with the help ofRevan and drove all outsiders off the planet.[51]
A Wookiee guard with bowcaster and traditional armor
Several thousand years before the Battle of Yavin, Kashyyyk was visited byscouts from the neighboring world ofTrandosha who were seeking sites to form new colonies. The Trandoshans were driven off by the Wookiees and forced to leave a single starship behind, which gave the inhabitants of Kashyyyk the necessary jump-start in order to reach the stars. The inquisitive Wookiees easily disassembled the vessel, analyzed the components and eventually replicated it. This led to the first Wookiee explorers setting off into the black depths of space. In time, their explorations led them into contact withCorellian traders who had established trade relations with the Trandoshans but were not willing to ally with them against the Wookiees. This in turn led to trade negotiations between the Corellians and Wookiees but quickly devolved into the former exploiting the latter. An end to this state of affairs came when theAlderaanian Diplomatic Corps became involved in the incident who petitioned the Galactic Republic for a Senate seat to be created for the inhabitants of Kashyyyk, paving the way for it to becoming a member of the Galactic Republic.[16]
After becoming a member of the Republic, the Wookiees dissolved the unfair treaty with the Corellians and formed a new equitable trade agreement with them. In addition, they began making treaties with other worlds and new species; this saw them purchasinghyperdrive technology from theDuros, opening Wookiee cultural studies programs inAlderaan's finest universities and trading with theVerpine for the state-of-the-art manufacturing processes. Within the Senate, many politicians spoke admirably of the "wisdom of the Wookiees," and they were perceived as a race that were in touch withThe Force, as they had integrated nature and technology on their homeworld. Kashyyyk became a distinguished member of the galactic community.[16]
Rise of the Empire[]
"Go, I will. Good relations with the Wookiees, I have."
Between59 BBY and56 BBY,[55] Wookiee explorers in the Kashyyyk system rediscoveredAlaris Prime, amoon that had been hidden from galactic view by thegas giantAlaris. Represented in the Galactic Senate by the ChieftainAttichitcuk, the Wookiees sought therights tocolonize the moon, meeting opposition from theTrade Federation who sought Alaris Prime for their own ends. After twodecades the Wookiees were successful and Attichitcuk was named as the leader of thecolonists,[56] departing for Alaris Prime between39 BBY and36 BBY[57] along with his son Chewbacca and nephewShoran. The Wookiees were guided in the colonization byJedi MasterQui-Gon Jinn who instructed them in gathering resources and doing battle with the predatorygundarks. While preparing to eliminate the gundarks from Alaris Prime entirely ChewbaccaencounteredB1-Series battle droids of the Trade Federation, who had secretly and illegally established a presence on Alaris Prime. The Wookiees fought several battles against the Federation before driving them off the moon entirely in theBattle for Alaris Prime, though the Federation's Trandoshan allyPekt escaped and still schemed to secure valuable Wookiee pelts.[56]
Jaccoba and Tarkov watch as the Separatists invade their planet.
At least one Wookiee,Tyvokka, became part of theJedi Order, and by32 BBY, Kashyyyk haddiplomatic relations with the planetNaboo.[58] During the last decades of the Republic,SenatorYarua represented both Kashyyyk and Trandosha, home of the reptilian Trandoshans. However, the Trandoshans resented their Wookiee neighbors; after some of them allied with the Trade Federation in the colonization of Alaris Prime, they also attempted to assassinate Yarua in 32 BBY. In23 BBY, a Wookiee vessel was attacked over a moon of Trandosha, resulting in a Wookiee blockade of Trandosha. Peace talks to resolve the issue were conducted22 BBY, under the mediation ofJedi MasterOppo Rancisis, but failed when it was revealed that the Trandoshans were pushing for Senatorial representation with Trade Federation backing.
During theClone Wars, the Wookiees attempted to remain neutral at first. It was only after the death ofPrinceRikummee at the hands ofSeparatist droids that KingGrakchawwaa led his people into the war on the side of the Republic. Later during the Clone Wars, the Confederacy invaded Kashyyyk. Conquering the planet would prove an asset since it would enable the Separatists to controlhyperspace route planning and use the Wookiee's secret routes to disrupt galactic trade and communication. In response, the Republic dispatched a task force led by the longtime Wookiee-friendMaster Yoda to defend Kashyyyk. There, a combined force ofclone troopers and Wookiees repulsed the Separatist droid invaders and their Trandoshan allies at theBattle of Kashyyyk. However, victory was short-lived. With therise of theGalactic Empire, theJedi were branded enemies of the Republic andhunted down by theNew Order. The formerclone troopers, now known asstormtroopers, then took over Kashyyyk and placed it under martial law. In response, the Wookiees rebelled against their new oppressors.
In19 BBY, the Empire enslaved the Wookiees and bombed their cities on Kashyyyk. Any survivors that attempted to escape the beleaguered world were hunted down by the Trandoshans.[1] It was in fact a Trandoshan official who was responsible for convincing the Empire to exploit the Wookiees as slave labor due to their reputation for being a powerful species.[59] This chain of events saw a joint venture between the Galactic Empire and theBlackscale Clan of Trandoshans with the two establishing theAvatar Orbital Platform that was used in the establishment of transportation as well as sale of Wookiee slaves.[60] During the reign of the Empire, word fromImperial Navy Command claimed that the Wookiee's were descended from a herd ofbanthas that crashed on the planet from aNeimoidian trader ship. When the Trade Federation traced the trackinghoming beacon, they discovered a new species on Kashyyyk who were the Wookiees.[61]
At the advice of the Trandoshans, the Empire enslaved the Wookiees for their strength. Wookiee captives were used for countlessImperial projects including theMaw Installation and theDeath Stars. However, because of their devotion to their homeworld, many Wookiees would evade the Imperial garrison to revisit their beloved forests for important Wookiee holidays, such asLife Day.
The Wookiees were represented byKerrithrarr in theNew Republic Senate, and Kashyyyk became key signatory and member world of theInner Council. The planet also welcomed trade, and its city ofThikkiiana became a major exporter of computer technology. However, this made it the target of the agents of theSecond Imperium in23 ABY. A task force underZekk raided Thikkiiana's computer stores for use by the Second Imperium in its war against theNew Republic.
A Wookiee is angered by a Bothan while a Zabrak watches.
During theYuuzhan Vong War, the Wookiees suffered a great loss when Chewbacca was killed on the planetSernpidal whilst helping refugees flee from the ruined world. A memorial service was held on Kashyyyk in honor for the fallen hero. As theYuuzhan Vong continued their push towards theCore Worlds, they passed near Kashyyyk though it was spared from their usual conquests. This was despite the fact that the world contained a wide variety of deadly lifeforms would have served as useful genetic stock for theShapers. Military strategists in the New Republic believed that whilst the Yuuzhan Vong would have used the deadly predators they lacked the time or personnel needed for this task of capturing live specimens. It was believed that once theYuuzhan Vong Empire had consolidated its holdings, it would have eventually turned its attention to the Wookiee homeworld. This led to the Wookiees preparing its defenses in case of any incursions to Kashyyyk.[16]
Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire saw danger in Wookiees, but knew better than to enslave the entire species like the previousGalactic Empire did. Instead it cut them off from the rest of the galaxy by having Kashyyyk blockaded and all Wookiee spaceports and shipyards destroyed. No Wookiees were allowed to leave or visit Kashyyyk without an Imperial order andHoloNet transmissions to the planet were completely cut off. Supplies and traders still could come and go, after swearing under penalty of death not to provide Wookiees with information of the state of the rest ofthe galaxy, but the Wookiees themselves were completely isolated and largely left alone.[62]
Behind the scenes[]
Concept art of a Wookiee Jedi
The name "Wookiee" originated inGeorge Lucas's filmTHX 1138. In a line ad-libbed by anactor, a character says, "I think I just ran over a wookiee on the expressway."
There were many early versions of Chewbacca's appearance, including one concept artwork that eventually became the basis of theLasat. His final appearance in the movie is based on a 1976 piece of concept art byRalph McQuarrie, which in turn was based on an illustration by John Schoenherr for George R.R. Martin's novelette "And Seven Times Never Kill Man!," published in the July 1975 issue ofAnalog. According to McQuarrie, George Lucas told him that the drawing was actually from the 1930s. The Schoenherr illustration also includes a weapon that became an inspiration for Chewbacca'sbowcaster.[63]
John Schoenherr's illustration (left) and Ralph McQuarrie's Chewbacca concept art (right)
Wookiees were present in theStar Wars saga from George Lucas's earliest drafts. In therough draft of the script for what eventually becameA New Hope, Wookiees (spelt "Wookees") inhabitYavin and fly some of the starfighters in theBattle of Yavin.[64][65] This idea resurfaced in early versions ofReturn of the Jedi,[66] thoughEwoks were used instead; in the DVD commentary for Return of the Jedi, Lucas stated that he changed this because he couldn't reconcile the "primitive," Stone Age race needed for the story with Chewbacca's strong technological know-how. InRevenge of the Sith, the long-awaited Wookiee army finally appeared on screen.
George Lucas once decreed that there can be no more WookieeJedi in theExpanded Universe.[67][68] Notably,Obsidian Entertainment was forbidden to makeHanharr aDark Jedi because of this restriction.Kirlocca,Lowbacca, andTyvokka are the only existing Wookiee Jedi characters (though an unnamed Wookiee inEdge of Victory: Conquest appears to be an unknown Jedi student rather than Lowbacca), as they were developed before this policy was enacted. TheDawn of the Jedi series which was published years after the policy was enacted introduced the WookieeJe'daiiRuhr. Lucas himself went back on the "no Wookiee Jedi" rule by including a Wookieeyoungling,Gungi, in theStar Wars: The Clone Wars episode "The Gathering" and its proceeding story arc.
Fans of jam bands are sometimes classified as "Wooks" or "Wookiees" due to their stereotype of having unshaven faces, long hair, and lack of personal hygiene.
Sometimes people withhypertrichosis are said to have Wookism or Wookieeism, though not a commonly accepted term.
Actors preparing to play Wookiees inRevenge of the Sith
Wookiees bear a notable resemblance to thecryptozoological phenomena of theSasquatch, with one issue of non-canonicalStar Wars Tales implying that Chewbacca is the inspiration for the legend. In the storyInto the Great Unknown, Han is forced to take the Millennium Falcon into a blind hyperspace jump and crash lands on anunknown planet. Han is killed by thearrows of indigenous warriors but Chewbacca survives and lives in the forest. 126 years later, aDr. Jones and his friend "Shorty" find the ship while investigating the area for reputed sightings of the Sasquatch, but leave after Jones finds something disturbingly familiar about Han's remains.
Chewbacca being linked with Sasquatch was likewise a reference to an aspect of filmingReturn of the Jedi, wherePeter Mayhew, Chewbacca's actor, had to be escorted by people wearing brightly colored vests while in costume so he would not be mistaken for Sasquatch by people who stumbled onto the set.
The video gameKnights of the Old Republic speaks of a historical Wookiee figure known asBacca. Apparently, he was the first to discover the existence of life outside Kashyyyk, a finding caused by a probe crashing into theShadowlands. He forged ablade from the wreckage, a weapon which still appears in Wookiee folklore and myth.
InStar Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds and its expansion pack,Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns, the Wookiees were shown with their own aquatic fleet, starfighters, and various mechs/heavy weapons/vehicles, as well as using various small arms besides their bowcasters (such as missiles and thermal detonators).
In early publications, the word "Wookiee" was often spelled as "Wookie."
The onlineStar Wars wikiWookieepedia is named after the species.
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