Kashyyyk Revisited • Newsletter @ Starwars.com

[Ternian]

From Homing Beacon Newsletter:

The Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk has the odd distinction of being a world established in detail by George Lucas, but that has only been explored thus far in the expanded universe. During the development of the original Star Wars, Lucas had planned a journey to the Wookiee homeworld but the evolving storyline and budget realities kept the arboreal world from appearing on the big screen.

Nonetheless, Lucas' detailed notes about Wookiee ecology and culture became the springboard for a number of authors and artists who weren't limited by fiscal restraints -- any planet can be visited in a comic book, for instance, for the same costs. The Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk appeared in the Marvel run, the Star Wars daily newspaper strips, and even on television in "The Star Wars Holiday Special."

Finally, the Wookiee homeworld will be given the movie treatment in Episode III. "It's a tropical, but cool planet," describes Concept Design Supervisor Ryan Church. "The only real directive we got from George is that they live in giant trees."

In developing the look of Kashyyyk, the Art Department first turned to the much-maligned 1978 television special to see what had come before. "We watched that on a loop about four or five times, avoided suicide, and went back to work," laughs Church. Though produced on a variety show scale, the Holiday Special's Wookiee world (then called Kazhyyyk -- pronounced, oddly, as 'Kazook') did have an establishing shot of a Wookiee domicile rendered as a painting by Ralph McQuarrie. The set built for the show -- the inside of Chewbacca's home -- was a mix of flashy sci-fi tech and carved-from-wood naturalism.

"We wanted to have a sort of high-tech Frank Lloyd Wright feel where the Wookiees incorporated the natural environments into their living conditions," says Church. "George was very specific about not wanting to see the same thing over and over again. We're visiting a lot of planets in Episode III, so when we cut to Kashyyyk really quickly, you have to know where you are."

The end result will be a single city on Kashyyyk that straddles several massive trees. Though other published sources have explored the thickest areas of jungle canopy, Episode III's location is on the shore of a tree-lined lagoon, offering greater visual dynamics and story potential.

In Episode III, Kashyyyk will be at war, and as such, the Art Department needed to develop Wookiee instruments of warfare. "We wanted it to look distinct from what the rest of the cultures in the Star Wars universe use," says Church. "Feng Zhu did a lot of these technical illustrations, and came up with a very unique aesthetic. I wanted to come up with a type of vehicle that implied that only a Wookiee could handle it. Like they took some kind of technology that's out there, and they commandeered it and modified it for their own use."

[vanillazinger]

I was really hoping they'd use a different name. "Kashyyyk" is way stupid.

[Ternian]

Like, totally, way.

[SI]

It sounds odd but ever since the Holiday Special I have been waiting to see Kashyyyk in the movies. Now I get my chance and I can't wait.

[Devil Dodo]

How is it pronounced? I say ka-SHICK in my head...

[KitFisto]

I can't wait for rots anymore . . . where is the screener ?

[Ternian]

As far as I remember, it is pronounced: CASH - ECK.

[PTGrievous]

As far as I remember, it is pronounced: CASH - ECK.

Yep, like in Republic Commando :rock

[Forcechoke]

Ryan Church (who probably heard it come out of GL's mouth a couple times) pronounced it "ka SHEE ick" at SDCC.

[KitFisto]

Can Wookies even pronounce the name of their home world or their own names for that matter?

Does it matter ?

[Kendo]

I can’t help but get increasingly stoked up at every aspect of ROTS. Since being a kid I’ve always imagined what it would be like to see Alderean and Kashyyyk. Finally I get to see them in all their glory…

Are we gonna see that much of Alderaan?

[vanillazinger]

Like, totally, way.

What, you're not hep to my tubular patois? Like, gag me with a spnizzle!

[Forcechoke]

So they're making a sequel to Harry and the Hendersons?

[Ben Ken]

So they're making a sequel to Harry and the Hendersons?

ROFL That's comedy. Chewie looks a little different. Is Mr. Mayhew playing Chewbacca this time around?

[Ben Ken]

My apologies if the question seemed stupid. You never know who all will stay and who will leave. Plus, it was just simple conversation to help keep the thread moving... Good day.

[Ktulu]

@Ben Kenobi.... try to read the O.S. more often...