Peter Mayhew has passed away

Peter Mayhew has died, his family announced today. The original Chewbacca actor passed away April 30 at his Texas home, they said in a statement tweeted from his Twitter account:

He’s survived by his wife Angie and three children. The family asks that, instead of gifts, fans consider donations to the Peter Mayhew Foundation.

Mayhew originated the role of Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy. He returned in Revenge of the Sith and in some scenes of The Force Awakens, where he taught and passed the role to Joonas Suotamo.

https://twitter.com/JoonasSuotamo/status/1124095635332853760

More remembrances from George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Kathleen Kennedy.

An open memorial service is being planned for December in Los Angeles.

Celebration Chicago: Guest list gets even longer with Mayhew, Eckstein

Since we last checked in with Celebration Chicago, they’ve added even more guests, including OG Chewbacca Peter Mayhew, The Clone Wars/Rebels and Her Universe head Ashley Eckstein, and lots and lots of others. From the films, there’s Temuera Morrison, Daniel Logan, Ken Leung, John Ratzenberger and Katy Kartwheel. Animation guests Donald Faison, Jason Isaacs, Vanessa Marshall, Myrna Velasco, Tom Kane, Catherine Taber and Dee Bradley Baker.

→ We’ve also got the full list for the Podcast Stage, which seems longer this year. Did any of your faves make it?

→ Some tips from Jennifer Landa on perfecting your costume for the con.

→ And on that note, tickets for the big fan club party (The 501st, Rebel Legion, Mandalorian Mercs, the Dark Empire, Droid Builders, Saber Guild and Galactic Academy are all involved) are now on sale to the public at SWBash.com.

Hayden Christensen returning to Celebration for Star Wars’ 40th Anniversary

Hayden Christensen will be returning to Celebration for the first time since 2002 as part of the 40th Anniversary panel, joining Mark Hamill, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Dave Filoni and Kathleen Kennedy. “Many galactic-sized surprises” are still being promised, but this is a fairly big one. (And yes, he’s signing.)

In other Celebration news, there’s now more previews up for the Store, mostly t-shirts.

Rumblings from The Force Awakens scoring sessions

Making Star Wars has some info from the John Williams scoring sessions. There are some references to rumors/possible spoilers at the link, but according to what Jason has heard the music “is brilliant so far” and “Williams has topped himself.”

star-wars-episode-7-cast-announce2→ Mark Hamill did the narration at the cast read-through, Peter Mayhew said at Star Wars Weekends.

→ An interview with Adam Driver’s stunt double, Gyula Tóth has been floating around.

→ Spoiler corner: Back to MSW, this time for some rumors on the Resistance and a sequence leading up to a major battle.