Chewbacca is the Star Wars franchise's most iconic Wookie but, if we're being completely honest, we've never really got to spend any real time with Kashyyyk's other ferocious, furry residents on screen!
That will change in The Acolyte when we meet Jedi Kelnacca, played by the actor - Joonas Suotamo - who took over the role of Chewbacca from the late Peter Mayhew in the Star Wars sequel trilogy movies and Solo. Unsurprisingly, he describes this part as "another Star Wars dream come true."
"Ever since [I was] five years old, I've been fantasising about being a Jedi, like every kid," Suotamo tells Empire Online (via SFFGazette.com). "When the word ‘Jedi’ was first mentioned [in talks for The Acolyte], I felt really excited – like a little kid who finally gets his favourite toy on his birthday."
"Kelnacca being a Jedi, that sets certain expectations to how you carry yourself in the line of duty," he says of his approach to the role. "There are certain assumptions that can be made as to whether he lets his emotions take control of him to the extent that Chewbacca would, for example. It was very interesting to bake that into the character and try to personify that on screen."
Of course, for longtime Star Wars fans, a Jedi Wookie is nothing new. The Clone Wars featured the Youngling Jedi Gungi and other High Republic content has put the spotlight on the fan-favourite Wookiee Padawan Burryaga.
"I was aware of the character, and I talked to the High Republic writers at a convention," Suotamo said of the latter, admitting he hasn't read any of those tie-in books or comics. "I also wanted to differentiate Kelnacca from Burryaga, and not copy too much from those stories."
You can take a closer look at Kelnacca in the X post below.
In The Acolyte, an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Amandla Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems...
The series stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss.
The Acolyte comes from creator and showrunner Leslye Headland (Russian Doll), who also serves as executive producer alongside Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King, and Jason Micallef. Charmaine DeGraté and Kor Adana are the co-executive producers, and Rayne Roberts and Damian Anderson are producing.
The next Star Wars TV series will premiere on Disney+ on June 4.