Chewbacca might look the same inSolo: A Star Wars Story,but don’t let that fool you. Inside the furry costume is a whole new guy.
Joonas Suotamo, 31, was a body double for the iconic character inThe Force Awakens, and now in the origin story, he takes on the role fully for the first time.
Like Chewbacca, the actor stands tall at 7 ft. “People have always felt they can approach me easily,” he tells PEOPLE in the special issue,Star Wars: The Secrets of Solo(available for purchase now). “Because there’s always something to talk about, which is ‘Do you play basketball?’ ‘No, I play mini golf.’ Kidding!”
Although he’s taller than your average actor, Suotamo still needed to wear heels in his shoes for certain scenes inSolo.
Ethan Miller/Getty
As for perfecting the creature’s voice, Suotamo says he can “conjure it up pretty successfully.” “I do it often,” he says. “Especially with my nephews.”
RELATED VIDEO: Donald Glover and Emilia Clarke Step Out for the New York Premiere of ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’
Solo: A Star Wars Storyflies into theaters May 25.
source: people.com
