It’s only been a few months since Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, but we’re near the release of brand new Star Wars film with the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story. Lucasfilm has been tight lipped after the widely reported split with original directors Lord and Miller, but in the last few weeks the company has treated us to a whole bunch of incredible TV spots and trailers that have given us a little more insight into the newest entry to the galactic franchise. One of the most exciting parts of what we’ve seen so far has undoubtedly been how heavy on Chewie they’ve all been! And one particularly moving Wookiee moment has us wondering if we might see the return of (some of) Chewie’s family that appeared in the much maligned Star Wars Holiday Special.
In the first full trailer for Solo we see Chewie share an embrace with a fellow Wookiee in front of the Millennium Falcon, leading many fans to wonder if that Wookie could possibly be Malla, Chewbacca’s wife from the infamous Holiday Special. The now-decanonized two hour made-for-TV movie took on the form of a variety show and focused on Chewie’s family as they celebrated Life Day, waiting for Han to show up with Kashyyyk’s most famous son. Though the experiment was an ultimate failure, it did introduce us to Chewie’s nearest and dearest, some of whom have already been introduced into the new main Star Wars canon.
In the third book of Chuck Wendig’s awesome Aftermath trilogy we’re introduced to a young Wookiee rebel named Lumpawaroo, which is the moniker that Chewie’s son went by in the Holiday Special. He was later revealed to be the son of our favorite co-pilot, so it seems like Lumpy is once again canon. This trailer hints that we could soon see Malla join her son and husband. The fact that Solo: A Star Wars Story looks like it will be Chewie-heavy makes the choice to reintroduce his whole family to canon a logical choice.
Could we get to see Chewie, Lumpy, and Malla together, living happily before Chewie teams up with his BFF for life and heads off into the galaxy for adventure? There’s a (pretty high) chance that the film subverts the classic narrative of the Wookiee saving hapless Han, and creating a scenario that sees Solo save Chewie. That could lead to the honorable Wookiee owing Han a life debt, meaning he’d have to leave his family, which would explain his dedication and commitment to Han Solo and his galactic adventures. Giving us this time with Chewie and his family would likely make his decision to leave them and join Han/repay his life debt that much more moving and bittersweet, adding a level of emotional depth that fans have never really seen in Chewie’s life before Han, Luke, and Leia.
All the signs are pointing towards a Wookiee family reunion and we’re one hundred percent here for it! Chewie has long been a stalwart of the Star Wars universe, and from what we’ve seen of the movie so far it looks like we’ll finally be getting to know the 190 year old Kashyyyk native in a way we’ve never gotten to on screen before!
Images: Lucasfilm, Disney
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