Chewbacca is alive and well in Star Wars canon, but the same couldn't be said for the beloved character in Legends. The Wookiee, who also goes by the nickname Chewie, was first introduced in George Lucas' 1977 debut film set in the galaxy far, far away. Peter Mayhew originally portrayed the character that served as Han Solo's best friend and co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon. Aside from Chewbacca's prominent role in the original and sequel trilogy, the Wookiee was vital to Solo: A Star Wars Story in addition to various Legends titles.
When Chewbacca made his debut, the Kashyyyk native assisted Han and Luke Skywalker in rescuing Princess Leia Organa from the Death Star. The brave military leader was a key ally to the Rebel Alliance, partaking in several crucial missions against the Empire. Not only did Chewbacca fight in the Battle of Yavin, but he also assisted in saving Han's life on multiple occasions. In Return of the Jedi, Chewie helped the rebels during the Battle of Endor, resulting in the fall of the Empire. After the First Order emerged in its place, Chewbacca became aligned with Leia and the Resistance. Following Han's death, the Wookiee continued piloting the Millennium Falcon, especially when it involved Rey's various missions. When the First Order and the Sith Eternal forces were decimated, Chewbacca was given Han's old medal of honor.
Before the Resistance's big victory in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Chewbacca joined Rey and the others in searching for the Sith Wayfinder on Passana. While there, the group was met by Kylo Ren and the First Order, resulting in Chewie's capture. Rey tried to pull down the transport ship that Chewbacca was on, but she accidentally destroyed it with Force lightning. The beloved Wookiee was thought to be dead until it was revealed that he was already on another ship. While Chewbacca's death was a major fake-out, he did meet his demise in past Star Wars storylines. The Star Wars Expanded Universe, now known as Legends, killed off the figure in the 1999 book, The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime, by author R. A. Salvatore.
Chewbacca Sacrificed Himself To Save Han's Son
After the formation of the New Republic following the fall of the Empire, Chewbacca was a hero of the Rebel Alliance. He continued to serve Han, not only because of his life debt but also because the two carried on their strong bond. When Han and Leia went on to have three children – Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin – Chewbacca vowed to protect them as well. In 25 ABY, Han, Chewie, and Anakin traveled to the planet of Sernpidal to pick up a shipment. While there, they were warned a moon was set to collide with the planet. The trio tried to evacuate citizens into the Millennium Falcon, but young Anakin was caught up in heavy winds. Chewbacca left the ship to bring Anakin back. Though he succeeded, the Wookiee was unable to get himself back on board, and he ended up getting crushed to death by the planet as Han and Anakin were forced to flee.
Readers of Salvatore's novel weren't too pleased with Chewbacca's fate, but he apparently had no choice in the matter. While Lucasfilm toyed with viewers in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga, the movies veered away from killing off the popular character. While Chewie's legacy carried on in Legends, Star Wars canon still has the creative power to incorporate him into future titles since he never met his demise.