By Ryan Rigley
With the rumored return of Harrison Ford as Han Solo in the highly-anticipated "Star Wars VII," it would seem a fairly safe bet to make that the smuggler's famed Wookie compatriot, Chewbacca, will also be returning in the new trilogy. Last week, Den of Geek found a casting call put out by Walt Disney Pictures that describes attributes similar to that of a Wookie: "Male, 7 ft to 7.3 ft tall with a slim/thin build and upright posture. Not too worked out or too 'thick set' especially in the shoulders. Broad facial features would be a bonus."
Although early rumors of original Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew being replaced in the new trilogy due to a serious illness have been popping up recently, Mayhew himself has now squashed those rumors stating "I intend to pursue the role of Chewbacca for Episode VII." That said, what other notable Wookies might be showing up in the new "Star Wars" trilogy? Our vote is for Snoova, the infamous Wookie bounty hunter!
Who?
Hailing from the Wookie homeworld Kashyyyk, Snoova was forced to abandon his planet after a rumored altercation with a family member over shared affections for a Wookie female. In Wookie society, using your claws for anything other than climbing is a crime punishable by death. Being as Snoova used his claws to attack and maim a fellow Wookie, he quickly exiled himself off-planet so as not to get the "death mark" placed on his head.
Snoova would become an indentured servant to a crime boss named Asteria before turning to a life as a bounty hunter. Operating during the events of the Galactic Civil War, Snoova would primarily track down Rebel bounties under Imperial orders. While hunting one such bounty, the Wookie mercenary loses an eye and later has it permanently replaced with a monocle ocular enhancer connected via hidden cybernetics in his eye socket.
Why?
Not only is Snoova one of the only Wookies to ever become a successful and feared bounty hunter, but he's also one of the only Wookies to have escaped being enslaved by the Empire during the Galactic Civil War; besides Chewbacca, of course. Although Snoova did primarily work for Imperial forces and accept only Imperial targets, he still was technically his own master.
How?
In the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Chewbacca actually disguises himself as Snoova in order to sneak past customs in Imperial City due to his wanted status as a Rebel agent. If Snoova doesn't physically appear in any of the new "Star Wars" films, then perhaps he could appear in tribute as the beloved Chewbacca dresses up as him in order to avoid being captured by the Empire.
