'Star Wars Episode 7' Casting Call Hints at Wookie's Return
Movie

Filmmakers are in search of a tall male 'with a slim/thin build and upright posture' and 'broad facial features.'

AceShowbiz - Han Solo may return to "Star Wars Episode 7" with his trusty tall hairy companion. A casting call put out by "Walt Disney Pictures/LucasFilm/Bad Robot" for an "Untitled Studio Feature" that will start production in "early 2014" seems to seek an actor fit to play the Wookie.

The desired physique is specifically tall. "Male, 7 ft to 7.3 ft tall with a slim/thin build and upright posture," reads the announcement obtained by Den of Geek. "Not too worked out or too 'thick set' especially in the shoulders. Broad facial features would be a bonus."

Peter Mayhew who played the original Chewbacca in the earlier "Star Wars" movies is also around 7 feet 2 inches tall. He is currently not in his best shape. His gigantism has caused complication that leads him being unable to stand up straight or walk unassisted.

According to Bleeding Cool, he has undergone four separate operations on his knees and legs and now is heading into a month's worth of "intense rehabilitation and recovery." His journey to recovery is documented in "Standing in the Stars: The Peter Mayhew Story".

After news of the casting call broke out, Mayhew issues a statement through the documentary's director W. Ryan Ziegler. "I intend to pursue the role of Chewbacca for Episode VII," so he says.

J.J. Abrams' new "Star Wars" trilogy will kick off with "Episode 7" in summer 2015 before "Star Wars Episode 8" follows in 2017 and "Star Wars Episode 9" in 2019. Spin-off movies that focus on the "origin stories" are set to be released between the entries.

Saoirse Ronan and Benedict Cumberbatch are rumored circling the project, along with Michael B. Jordan and David Oyelowo. No official announcement has been made, but Abrams recently fueled the Cumberbatch casting rumor with his "I love that guy" comment. "We're working our asses off trying to get things in place w/ casting," he added.

While most eyes are focused on the big-screen project, another franchise set in the "Star Wars" universe for an upcoming CGI-animated TV series is being quietly developed. Oyelowo is in talks to join the voice cast along with Freddie Prinze Jr., Vanessa Marshall, Taylor Gray and Steve Blum in "Star Wars Rebels".

The series is in the works at Lucasfilm Animation. It eyes to debut in fall 2014 on Disney XD. Not much else information is available for the TV project.

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