George Lucas was against the idea of Wookie Jedi, and he even set a rule for it. Of course, there are a handful of Wookie Jedi characters, but they existed before the franchise creator prohibited the use of them. Years later, fans are watching The Acolyte, and there’s Kelnacca, a Wookie Jedi.
Why did Lucas change his mind? Why was he against it in the first place? These are some questions fans might have been asking about the strange law against Wookie Jedi.
George Lucas Was Not A Fan Of The Wookie Jedi Concept
In an entry from Star Wars Insider #79 on StarWars.com via Wookiepedia, creator George Lucas “once decreed that there can be no more Wookie Jedi in the Expanded Universe.” In a DVD commentary for the Return of the Jedi, he revealed not being able to “reconcile the primitive, Stone Age race needed for the story with Chewbacca’s strong technological know-how.”
There are only three existing Wookie Jedi characters: Kirlocca, Lowbacca, and Tyvokka. There is another unnamed Wookie in Edge of Victory: Conquest, which appears to be an unknown Jedi student. They were developed before the rule was created.
Editor and author of the Jedi Council series Randy Stadley wrote in an archived forum via Dark Horse, “There are a number of species, apparently, who either lack the ability to use the Force, or who lack the subtlety of thought necessary for Jedi training,” which seemingly explains why Lucas was not keen on the idea of Wookie Jedi figures.
It was not until the prequel trilogy was released that showed the diversity of the Jedi. Their presence continued to persist in the Star Wars universe, and so this has been speculated as the reason why Lucas changed his mind.
The Acolyte Features The Wookie Jedi Master Kelnacca
The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland told Entertainment Weekly’s Dagobah Dispatch podcast that “they do have a Wookie Jedi in the High Republic” and they thought of doing the same for the show.
She loved Joonas Suotamo’s performance in Solo: A Star Wars Story, and she wanted to “see him be a Jedi — to actually, do some action work and some fighting and not just the sidekick role.” The Finnish actor, who also played Chewbacca, is now portraying Kelnacca, a Wookie Jedi.
He brings his own his own energy, and he is taught in the ways of the Force, which has been a dream of mine ever since I was a kid. To get to play a character that can wield the Force is beyond any of my dreams.
Headland didn’t think the studio would let her do it, but she kept on pitching the idea, and [Star Wars special effects artist] Neal Scanlan loved it. The addition of Wookie Jedi in The Acolyte shows that the universe of Star Wars keeps on expanding and exploring ways to tell more stories.
The Acolyte is now streaming on Disney+.
