Playing Chewbacca

movies movies (over and over and over FUR SURE! After his college again) on worn out VHS tapes. The Lucasfilm won’t say which series ignited his imagination and scenes Suotamo appears in. So that may or may not be basketball sparked his creativity. Star Wars him with Han Solo (top). We helped Suotamo develop a love of can confirm, though, that filmmaking and storytelling, even is him (bottom right) with career ended, as he blossomed as an athlete. Mayhew on the set. “Basketball gave me everything Joonas Suotamo when I was 14, 15,” Suotamo says. “I remembers. “Although the game was really into it. I had hopes of didn’t give me many hints, used his height getting to the NBA. I tried to do all movement-wise.” those things.” To really get Chewie, Suotamo to land another Suotamo’s skills on the court drew on his knowledge of the earned him a place on the Finnish original trilogy, and he worked with job: playing junior national team. His play was Mayhew on different Wookiee good enough to attract attention mannerisms. The best advice he Chewbacca. from a host of Division I programs received? “It might have been in the United States. something to do with Chewbacca’s BY DANTE A. Penn State won the Suotamo proud chest. Always proud,” CIAMPAGLIA Sweepstakes, but it wasn’t a happy Suotamo says with a laugh. But time for him in Happy Valley. After what helped most was basketball. redshirting his freshman year, in “I’ve learned how to control my 2005, Suotamo was plagued by body more than I would if I had injuries. He appeared in only 34 never played sports,” says Suotamo, games and scored 22 points at PSU who practiced his movements while WOOKIEE before hanging up his jersey. “I watching himself in the mirror. never could give it my 100%,” he He was also helped by the mental says. “It was just that kind of thing training that comes with playing where eventually I knew I needed to sports. As a huge Star Wars fan, focus on my aspirations elsewhere.” Suotamo could easily have gone full I was on set in the suit, I wanted to fanboy during rehearsals and on set. surprise everyone,” he says. So he A NEW HOPE But his experience on the court broke out that unmistakable Suotamo graduated a year early, in wouldn’t allow it. “It’s that thing I Wookiee roar. “I wanted to make a 2008, with a film degree. He credit to basketball,” he says. “If big entrance — I think people were ROOKI returned to Finland, sold home and you’re on the free throw line or if impressed. I try to nail the pitch, health insurance, filled in as a gym you’re meeting your idol, no matter and then I just roll my tongue. Not so long ago, in a country kind of Peter Mayhew, the original Chewbacca, teacher at his old high school, and what situation you’re in, it’s always That’s the two-second lesson to faraway...? kicking First Order butt alongside played basketball for a pro team in best to stay as relaxed as possible Chewbacca noises.” Han Solo and helping Rey and Finn Espoo as well as the national team. and just kind of be yourself.” Now that The Force Awakens is oonas Suotamo is living a dream begin their adventures with the That led him to Star Wars. Naturally, though, he was a bit out, Suotamo has a new task: he never thought possible. After Resistance. “From the start to the very Through his national team coach, nervous to meet Mayhew the first making sure die-hard fans accept a Jspending the last few years as a end of shooting, it was a thrill ride,” Henrik Dettmann, Suotamo time. But the original Chewie different person (occasionally) substitute teacher and insurance Suotamo says. “I have connected with a casting agent welcomed him with open arms, behind the Chewbacca mask. And so salesman in his native Finland, the to thank basketball for HOOP DREAM looking for a tall man to fill a role in helped him realize his full Wookiee far, most people have embraced him 29-year-old 6' 10" former college getting me this role.” Heavily recruited anunnamedmovie. Hesubmitted potential, and made him feel at as a member of the Star Wars family. by colleges basketball player is now part of the from all over photos and a test video where he had home throughout the process of “I’m stoked that it seems to Star Wars universe — in a big way. TEMPTED BY THE the country, to act like a caveman. Five months making a Star Wars movie. resonate with the fans,” he says. Officially, Suotamo is credited as COURT SIDE Suotamo was later, he got the call: He would be in Once shooting began, Suotamo “I’m so happy that people are taking “Chewbacca Double” in Star Wars: The Growing up in Espoo, limited to just the new Star Wars movie. “We took the initiative to make his this as well as they are. I treasure 34 games with Force Awakens. In reality, though, he Finland, Suotamo the Nittany Lions celebrated by playing LEGO Star castmates comfortable with him as the responsibility because I’m one shared Chewie duty with 71-year-old watched the Star Wars by injuries. Wars on the PlayStation 3,” Suotamo a second Chewbacca. “The first time of those fans.” n ©LUCASFILM 2015 (2, MOVIE); CHRISTOPHER WEDDLE/CENTRE TIMES/MCT/GETTY DAILY IMAGES (BASKETBALL); COURTESY OF JOONAS SUOTAMO (WITH MAYHEW) 44 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS SIKIDS.COM / 45.

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