So you want to be a Wookiee? This could be your lucky day! That is, if you're extremely tall, relatively thin, and have good posture.
British casting service Spotlight has reportedly put out its feelers for actors who fit the body type of Chewbacca. The film is unnamed in the call, but we're all but sure it's for "Star Wars: Episode VII" as the production date is listed as "early 2014" and producers named include Lucasfilm co-chair Kathleen Kennedy and "Episode VII" writer-director J.J. Abrams.
And not a lot of actors will meet the physical requirements for role: "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."
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Yup, that's in the range of the height of Peter Mayhew, who played everyone's favorite Wookiee in the previous "Star Wars" films. The Chewbacca actor stands 7 feet, 2 inches tall. Mayhew is now 69 years old and has been having health problems that make it difficult for him to walk, so if Chewie is coming back, they'll need someone new to fill the suit.
Unless Disney, Lucasfilm, and Bad Robot are secretly shooting a film about an NBA star in the UK, it looks like Chewie — or some of his kind — will be returning for "Episode VII." And yes, this is just one of many details about the upcoming film that hasn't yet been officially revealed.
The listing plays coy, saying the casting call is for an "Untitled Studio Feature" that will begin shooting in early 2014. But it has already been revealed that "Episode VII" is being shot in England, and Disney, Lucasfilm, and Bad Robot [J.J. Abrams's production company] aren't known to have any other projects shooting in the UK at that time.
If you're over seven feet tall, not too bulky, and you're OK with the fact you're not going to get a medal like all your human (and droid) friends, get in touch with Spotlight and let them know you're available.
And let's all hope you and Han Solo have worked out your differences by now.
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