Chewbacca might be the most famous Wookiee in the Star Wars Universe but an upcoming series will introduce another Wookiee who is just as important as Han Solo's best friend. The Acolyte will feature a lightsaber-wielding Wookiee who will also be played by Solo: A Star Wars Story actor Joonas Suotamo. But how is this new character different from Chewie?
Joonas Suotamo has already played Chewbacca in several Star Wars projects. However, he is getting his chance to portray a different character in The Acolyte and this time, it's a Wookiee who is handier with a lightsaber than a bowcaster. It's an intriguing new role and Suotamo discussed how playing a Wookiee Jedi Master is very different from his previous work.
Suotamo was recently a guest on the Dagobah Dispatch podcast where he spoke about his new character Kelnacca in The Acolyte. The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker actor pointed out that playing a Jedi meant being more agile while in costume.
"I'm really happy for everyone to get to know [Kelnacca] because I purposely tried to differentiate him from Chewbacca," Soutamo said. "Being a Jedi, there's more to that. And that was the challenge. It entailed all the training and getting ready with my castmates. We had such a fun time preparing for these roles, and there was a lot of time to think how to approach each situation and moment."
It certainly sounds like Soutamo had fun playing Kelnacca since it meant being able to do more as a Wookiee. Although Chewbacca is a heavyhitter, his moves are usually about pointing and shooting and maybe throwing people around. As Kelnacca, Soutamo will be able to wield a lightsaber (a dream come true for any Star Wars fan) and engage in duels. Needless to say, we can't wait to meet this new Jedi next year.
Star Wars: The Acolyte is set to premiere on Disney+ in 2024.
