'STAR WARS' AT 45: CHEWIE'S BAD HAIR DAY!

By the time of the first Star Wars' UK filming conclusion in Summer 1976, the original Chewbacca yak-hair made costume and one of the masks created by Stuart Freeborn had begun to deteriorate. This condition was highly noticeable by 1977 as the character (potentially inhabited by Peter Mayhew once again, the actor having spent time that year promoting the film in America) partook in a series of special images primarily for licensing use, taken by legendary music photographer Bob Seidemann. Presumably due to a lack of approved Chewie posed publicity images taken during principal photography in 1982, some of these 1977 shots even got used to promote the character on selected items of Return of the Jedi merchandise during 1983/84. Because of the similar scruffy look to the character in the Battle of Endor scenes for Jedi, the 1977 Chewie shoot would, either by accident (photo library caption error?) or design, still be partially linked to that film as part of image publicity usage in magazines/merchandise by the time of the Special Editions' release!

During the original Star Wars' American-based post-production phase, the Chewie mask was also used for some kind of reference (and partying) by ILM, which probably added further to the wear and tear. By the time of The Empire Strikes Back's UK pre-production in early 1979, Freeborn would already be developing a new Yak hair suit and mask for the heroic Wookiee.

A ROTJ T-shirt using the 1977 Chewbacca shoot.

Vintage Star Wars Chewbacca character blow up from 1977.

The classic behind the scenes image, presumably linked to the 1977 Bob Seidemann poster shoot campaign shot in the US, of which the decaying Chewbacca costume was used.

The mask being referenced at ILM (for unknown reasons) by Steve Gawley and colleague-possibly early 1977. Images: Dave Berry.

Clowning about at ILM!