A closer look
Chewbacca's original iconic costume from the first Star Wars film was constructed by meticulously weaving together a mixture of real yak fur and actual human hair. George Lucas casually built his ultimate sci-fi space opera featuring a massive, lovable alien companion who was essentially a giant, walking wig composed of the discarded locks of unknown strangers. While kids spent decades hugging Chewbacca plush toys and dreaming of a Wookiee best friend, Peter Mayhew was sweating profusely inside a highly flammable suit of biological waste. It adds a deeply uncomfortable layer of gothic horror to the entire original trilogy knowing that Han Solo's co-pilot is basically a bipedal collection of barber shop floor clippings
