Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker concept art shows Chewbacca being interrogated and tortured while a prisoner of the First Order. As the loyal co-pilot of Han Solo, Chewbacca aka “Chewie,” has appeared in as many Star Wars films as the Millennium Falcon. In the original trilogy, the Wookie was portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In Disney/Lucasfilm’s sequel trilogy, Mayhew shared the role with Joonas Suotamo, who took over following The Force Awakens (2015).
Four years after The Force Awakens, The Rise of Skywalker concluded the Skywalker saga. The film sees Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) search for a Sith Wayfinder, leading them to the ruins of the Death Star and, ultimately, the resurrected Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid)—who is revealed to be the grandfather of Rey. Partway through the film, the group goes to Pasaana, and Chewie is captured by the First Order.
Artist Jon McCoy recently took to his blog to share work he did with the team on Episode IX. Some of The Rise of Skywalker concept art depicts a scene and designs of a machine holding Chewie as he's interrogated and tortured. Check them out below:
Not only has Suotamo since revealed that a torture scene was originally in the movie, but a scene featuring Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) torturing Chewie was filmed and subsequently cut from The Rise of Skywalker. While praising Driver’s ability to scare him, the actor has said he believes the scene might have turned out too dark for the Disney film. Despite already murdering Han Solo, seeing him torture someone as beloved as Chewie surely would’ve made Kylo Ren's redemption arc even harder to digest. This scene was not available on the home video release of The Rise of Skywalker and it remains to be seen if this footage will ever be seen.
Disney’s sequel trilogy was met with a lackluster reaction from fans. On top of that patronizing medal, perhaps the most frustrating aspect of Chewie’s role in The Rise of Skywalker concerns a moment where Rey seemingly destroys the transport the Wookie is taken on, leading viewers to believe the beloved character is dead. Of course, he is revealed to have been taken aboard another ship. Hopefully, Episode IX won’t be the last time audiences see Chewbacca. In recent years, Disney/Lucasfilm has taken to the small screen with The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and other upcoming shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi. Disney+ has already found success bringing back legacy characters, and it would seem only a matter of time before fans see Chewie again.
Source: jonmccoyart.com
