The newest film in the Star Wars franchise, The Last Jedi, comes out in three days, and I can’t wait. To prepare myself for the new film, I’ve been reading every bit of Star Wars news I can find, and checking out all of the awesome photos from the premiere, including pictures of the new Chewbacca, Finnish actor Joonas Suotamo — who also happens to be super good-looking under that Wookie suit.
As Star Wars fans know, Peter Mayhew played Chewbacca in the original Star Wars films. But when the franchise was rebooted, Mayhew was a little older (read: he is currently 73), and needed to split the work with another actor. Enter Joonas Suotamo. Suotamo was a double for Mayhew during 2015’s The Force Awakens, and, as far as we know, took on the same role in the upcoming The Last Jedi. Suotamo will take on the role of Chewbacca by himself, in next spring’s Han Solo spin-off film.
Well, it’s safe to say that fans were probably shook when Suotamo arrived at the Last Jedi premiere looking really attractive!
Now, in addition to focusing on his incredible good looks, it is important to get to know Suotamo as a person. He is really tall (6′ 10″, in fact) and used to play basketball for Penn State and the Finnish national youth team. He also used to sell insurance while he was waiting for his big break! But ladies, he’s taken! He and his fiancee are expecting their first child in February.
I for one am excited to see how his career progresses and can’t wait to see him make his solo Chewbacca debut in Solo: A Star Wars Story, (no pun intended).