<Li> Lowbacca (nephew) </Li> <Tr> <Th> Homeworld </Th> <Td> Kashyyyk </Td> </Tr> <P> Chewbacca (/ tʃ uː ˈbɑːkə /), nicknamed "Chewie", is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise . He is a Wookiee, a tall, hirsute biped and intelligent species from the planet Kashyyyk . Chewbacca is the loyal friend and first mate of Han Solo, and serves as co-pilot on Solo's spaceship, the Millennium Falcon . Within the films of the main saga, Chewbacca is portrayed by Peter Mayhew from episodes III to VII (Mayhew shares the role with his body double Joonas Suotamo on Episode VII). Suotamo took over the role alone in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and will reprise the role in Solo: A Star Wars Story . The character has also appeared on television, books, comics, and video games . </P> <P> Chewbacca, a 200 - year - old Wookiee, becomes Han Solo's companion after Han, an Imperial officer at the time, refused an order to kill him, for which Han was dismissed from the Imperial Navy and became a smuggler . Wookiee tradition demands that if anyone saves a Wookiee's life, the Wookiee must swear a lifedebt to them and as such, Chewbacca protected Han for the rest of his life, and served as his co-pilot on the Millennium Falcon . Standing at 8 feet tall, Chewbacca is covered with long hair, and wears only a bandolier . His weapon of choice is the Wookiee bowcaster (a crossbow - shaped directed - energy weapon). Chewbacca was named one of the "greatest sidekicks" in film history by Entertainment Weekly . </P>

Is chewbacca the same actor in the new star wars